Sylvana Meluzzi, circus performer, was born in 1928. She died from a heart attack on October 30, 2008, aged 80

Sylvana Zacchini Meluzzi was a member of one of Italy’s most famous circus families, the Zacchinis, who were renowned for their human cannonball acts over several generations.

She was born in Berlin, where her family was performing, her father being Bruno Zacchini. Her uncle, Hugo Zacchini, conceived a modern version of the human cannonball act while serving with the Italian artillery in the First World War, and first performed it in Malta in 1922 with his father’s show, Zacchini Brothers’ Circus.

He and his brothers Bruno, Edmondo and Mario all became famous as human projectiles in great circuses throughout Europe, including Bertram Mills’ show at Olympia, London. In 1929 John Ringling, the US impresario, booked them for The Greatest Show on Earth in the US. In 1934 Hugo and Mario created circus history by being fired from a doublebarrelled cannon.

In 1944 Sylvana, who had gone to the States as a child, became the first female human cannonball in the double number, aged only 16. She retired from this risky number at 24, marrying Roberto Meluzzi, and together they later ran a circus in South America and also imported big amusement rides from Europe. At the time of her death, she was still working in the office of Walker Brothers’ Circus in Sarasota.

John Ringham, actor, pictured above, was born on February 10, 1928. He died on October 20, 2008, aged 80

John Ringham was one of British television’s busiest character actors and appeared in more than 100 dramas, miniseries and sitcoms. He was often seen in upper-class or military roles, notably as Captain Bailey in the first series of Dad’s Army and as Major Dalby in Colditz, and he also played numerous policemen, including Inspector Lenner in several episodes of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Superintendant Blake in Juliet Bravo.

He was equally adept at comedy and appeared regularly with Terry Scott and June Whitfield in the 1970s sitcom Terry and June, and he won acclaim for his comic performance as Norman Warrender in Just Good Friends. He was also a favourite with children and played Mr Blocker in the children’s series Woof and Major Andrew Maxwell in The Piglet Files.

From the 1960s onwards he was rarely out of work, and his face became one of the most familiar on TV. He appeared in three consecutive seasons of Doctor Who, notably as the evil villain priest Tlotoxl in Doctor Who and the Aztecs. His many credits included Bergerac, Pennies from Heaven, Flambards, The Pallisers and he was Lord Rochester in The First Churchills.

He made several films, the most recent being V For Vendetta, in which he co-starred with Stephen Fry and John Hurt. His most recent television appearance was earlier this year when he played Max Wickham in the medical soap Doctors.

John Cumming, miner, footballer and coach, was born on March 17, 1930. He died on December 6, 2008, aged 78

John Cumming was one of those great footballers who started their working lives in the coal mines. He was the driving force behind the great Hearts side which Tommy Walker assembled in the mid-1950s, helping it to win seven top Scottish trophies, including the League Cup victory over Motherwell in 1954 and the win over Kilmarnock in the same competition eight years later.

His seven-medal haul came from two League Championships, in 1958 and 1960, the Scottish Cup triumph — the club’s first in 50 years — in 1956 and the League Cup victories of 1954, 1958, 1959 and 1962.

Cumming lived his entire life in Carluke. On leaving school he went down the mines at Castlehill Colliery. In 1950, after National Service, during which he played in the Army Cup Final, he joined Hearts.

He won his first Scottish cap against Hungary in 1954. Scotland “only” lost 4-2, which, given England had lost 6-3 and 7-1 to the same opponents within the previous 13 months, allowed the Tartan Army to claim a moral victory. Puskas and his team mates were none-too-happy with the snappy tackling of Scotland wing halves Tommy Docherty and Cumming.

Cumming was to add a further eight caps to his tally by June 1960. He remained a Hearts player and club captain until he retired in 1967 to become the club’s trainer in 1976.

He left the club to return briefly to the coal industry before joining British Steel at Ravenscraig, where he was a much-respected figure.

Cumming was never booked or sent off during his long career. He is survived by his wife, Jean, and one son and one daughter.