UK News in brief

Wednesday, 20 June 2012 12:38

Written by Editor

UK

Victor Spinetti, Welsh-born star of stage and screen, has died at the age of 82. Born to an Italian-Welsh father and Welsh mother in Cwm, Ebbw Vale, he was a regular performer in London's West End as well as with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He appeared in more than 30 films, including the Beatles' movies and Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. He had been diagnosed with cancer.

Spinetti's agent, Barry Burnett, said: "He had cancer for a year, but he was very cheerful to the end. I spoke to him on Friday and he was talking about his plans and everything."
News of his death prompted a stream of tributes from fans and members of the entertainment world on Twitter.

Drum tragedy

A 33-year-old drum technician, Scott Johnson from South Yorkshire,  has died from crush injuries at Downsview Park in Toronto, Canada after the top part of a stage collapsed just three hours before a sell-out  Radiohead concert was due to open.Apart from Mr. Johnson, a 45-year-old man was taken to hospital with head injuries and two others were treated at the scene for minor injuries. Police spokesman, Tony Vella, said the accident happened as crew were setting up the stage when the top portion of the stage fell down on top of the four people.

Many tributes were to be found on Twitter saying that Scott Johnson had played with many top bands and was a first class drummer in his own right.
The band cancelled the concert and said that the 40,000 tickets sold for the concert would be refunded.