Bob Monkhouse and Alan Bates have both passed away, with Mr. Monkhouse losing the battle against prostate cancer, which I didn’t even realise he had been diagnosed with — two years ago, according to the news report — and Sir Bates had been suffering from liver cancer. It also turns out an aunt’s mother and the mother of one of my mum’s friends both died in the last few days too. A sad way to approach the end of the year :(