Obituary
Wind, sand and stars
Mike Sadler guided the first SAS raiders through the North African desert
The navigator and last of the SAS “Originals” died on January 5th, aged 103
Bad blood
Gao Yaojie uncovered a scandal that shocked and shamed China
The gynaecologist and AIDS campaigner died on December 10th, aged 95
The comfort of apples
Eric Freeman hoped to save the Gloucestershire of old
The champion of wassailing and saviour of rare breeds died on October 29th, aged 91
Let’s talk about now
Benjamin Zephaniah stayed angry all his life
The performance poet and “deep-down revolutionary” died on December 7th, aged 65
A cowgirl on the bench
Sandra Day O’Connor specialised in breaking into male bastions
The first woman justice on America’s Supreme Court died on December 1st, aged 93
Adapt or die
Saleemul Huq lobbied ceaselessly to make poor countries heard
The biologist and climate activist died on October 28th, aged 71
The fastest gun in the west
Elinor Otto did not realise what giant strides she was making for women
The longest-working “Rosie the Riveter” died on November 12th, aged 104
A hundred ways to peace
Vivian Silver knew no good could ever come of war
The veteran Canadian-Israeli peace activist has been confirmed killed on October 7th, aged 74
Elastic adventures
David Kirke believed safe sport repressed people’s imaginations
The world’s first bungee-jumper and founder of the Dangerous Sports Club died on October 21st, aged 78
When the laughter stops
Matthew Perry changed the way America spoke
The star of the sitcom “Friends” died on October 28th, aged 54
An eye over Gaza
Rushdi Sarraj loved to record what others did not or would not see
The Palestinian photo-journalist and film-maker was killed in an Israeli missile strike on October 22nd