5th June

A couple of passings today that it would be remiss of me to not touch upon. Peter Sallis has left us at the age of 96. For many he was best known as Cleggy from Last Of The Summer Wine, appearing in all 295 episodes of the series over 37 years. It's difficult to imagine such longevity in a TV programme these days. But for my generation he was Wallace of Wallace and Gromit fame. I don't know anyone who doesn't love Wallace and Gromit and who hasn't taken the adventures of the bungling inventor and his canine sidekick into their hearts. As Nick Park commented on BBC News tonight, Sallis brought such a brilliant sense of warmth and humour to the role and by all accounts was a pleasure to work with and to know.

In much more sad news, the former Newcastle and Ivory coast midfielder Cheik Tiote collapsed and died during training today with Beijing Enterprises. He was 30 years old. Tiote was a big, physical no nonsense sort of player. The kind of guy you'd demand to be booked if he kicked your player up a height but delighted to witness if he played for your team. He'll probably be best remembered for his only Newcastle goal, a terrific volley from outside the area to make it 4-4 against Arsenal. It was the only occasion in Premier League history that a team has come back from 4-0 down to draw. With his wife due to give birth this week to their third child, his death is an utter tragedy that gives one pause.

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