Richard Matheson - d. June 23rd 2013

While the world

made speed readers

out of all of us,

you turned stranger pages;

the incredible thinking man,
looking for

the last idea on earth.

Read about Richard Matheson here 

Hans Hass - d. June 16th 2013

In the grey seas of the 50s

you held our breath

for so long, in the depths,

looking for colour, not fearing

the capriciousness of sharks.

Read more about Hans Hass here 

Bobby Bland - d. June 23rd 2013

We listened

for the torrid blues

of an old soldier,

leonine and savage,

but they go down so fast

and already he had passed

farther up the road.

Click here to read about Bobby Bland

James Gandolfini - d. June 19th 2013

Silvio called; he looked
for you everywhere –
the Pork Store,
the Bing, the Vesuvio -
but you had gone
to meet Johnny Sack
for the final sit-down.

Read about James Gandolfini here 

Slim Whitman - d. June 19th 2013

You had two chances

to take the Opry curtain call

alongside Johnny

Tammy and Hank;

Slim chance, and no chance,

and Slim just left town.

Read more about Slim Whitman here 

Eve Arnold - d. January 4th 2012

You siphoned a measure
of this incendiary world
from the sump of misfits,
monarchs, demagogues,
through the valve
of your eye, into ours.

Read more about Eve Arnold here 

Ray Bradbury - d. June 5th 2012

Something special

this way came,

and went; an augur

writing futures

we would not want

to live in.

Read about Ray Bradbury here 

Norman Collier - d. March 14th 2013

The smut-black

.orking-mens’ .lubs

of Pontef.act and Otley

.ardened you like anthra.ite.

Go, .orman, burn bright

and .urn for.ver.

Read more about Norman Collier 

Tony Gubba - d. March 11th 2013

Never the big matches
or the roar of finals,
the cathedrals of power,
but at least, for you,

the thrilling second half
is under way.

Read about Tony Gubba here 

Davy Jones - d. February 29th 2012

Here he comes;

prince of boy-bands,

a manufactured Mancunian

washed up in Hollywood,

walking down the final street,

tired of monkeying around.

Read more about Davy Jones here 

Derek Batey - d. February 17th 2013

Your turn

to don the headphones,

enter the ethereal booth

and strain to hear

what those you loved

are saying about you.

Read more about Derek Batey here 

Esther Williams - d. June 6th 2013

At the first stroke

the pool would clear for you.

You were always far out,

and not drowning, but waving.

Read more about Esther Williams 

Richard Briers - d. February 17th 2013

When suburbia falls
and all that's left is soil
then we may realise;
not every life
is a good life.

Read more about Richard Briers here 

Tom Sharpe - d. June 6th 2013

You inked a broad canvas;
no vice too precious,
no moral too fixed.
We filed you under satire,   
the Hogarth of prose.

Read more about Tom Sharpe here

Christopher Martin-Jenkins - d. January 1st 2013

Innings closed, stumps drawn.

A decent knock;

improvised strokes, the odd slip,

but now the pavilion beckons.

Read more about Christopher Martin-Jenkins here

Gerry Anderson - d. December 26th 2012

I hope you knew

how you pulled our strings,

made our jerky bodies move,

rescued us,
but now Spectrum is black.

Read more about Gerry Anderson here 

Sir Patrick Moore - d. December 9th 2012

The dark well 
of the sky
briefly reflects
the eccentric trail 
of a comet,
never again 
to pass this way.

Read more about Patrick Moore here 

Johnny Otis - d. January 17th 2012

Clear the dancefloor;
the once and future King
is setting up his kit,
and this, my friends,
will be the last boogie.

Read more about Johnny Otis here