RIP Professor Mick Aston and director Lau Kar-Leung (Liu Chia-Liang)

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I am heartbroken, this morning, to learn of the death of archaeologist Professor Mick Aston. He was best known for Time Team, the tv archaeology show, and a great ambassador for his subject and especially for mediaeval archaeology, which was his specialism. He was also a fine scholar who made a significant contribution to our understanding of mediaeval towns. I only met him once, and that very briefly, but he was a lovely man and I find myself rather tearful at this news. Thank you, Professor Aston, for your skill and expertise and charm and enthusiasm. And rest in peace. We need more like you, and we will miss you.

And no sooner do I post this, than I read of the death of Hong Kong director, action choreographer and actor Lau Kar-Leung. One of the leading directors of the 70s and 80s, he fostered a whole strong of talented performers, not least Gordon Liu Jia-Hui, Donnie Yen Chi-Dan and Kara Hui Ying-Hong. His films include the classic 36th Chamber of Shaolin, the original 'girls with guns' film Lady is the Boss and the glorious Jackie Chan (Sing Lung) starrer, Drunken Master 2.

If there are any more deaths today, then today will be cancelled.