The master of the spy novel and creator of George Smiley was 89
The flying ace and first to break the sound barrier was 97
The best footballer of his generation, some say the best-ever, was 60
The essayist, journalist and historian who challenged sexual expectations was 94
The former chief rabbi, broadcaster and moral philosopher was 72
The magician, who had a second career as a professional debunker of flim-flam and trickery, was 92
The actor and Scots nationalist was 90
The doctor who dreamed of rebuilding Somalia was 73
The French schoolteacher, beheaded for instructing children in French secular values, was 47
The singer who captured Iran’s soul and gave voice to its longings was 80
The liberator of India’s bonded labourers was 80
The legendary editor of the Sunday Times and president of Random House, was 92
