Many great, important and beautiful people have died around 25 November: Barbara, Gérard Philipe, Freddie Mercury, Joey Stefano, Lotte Lenya.....and quite a few more.

Judy Lewis, the illegitimate daughter of Loretta Young and Clark Gable, who also died recently on this date, will not figure among them. Loretta gave birth to her, dumped her in a home, then retrieved her when the coast was clear so as to avoid scandal. Gable never told her that he was her father--he met her just the once, and Judy didn't learn the truth until some years later.

This woman, who one very important movie mogul said was instantly recognisable as Gable's child because of her elephant ears, never read my book about her father. She did however level some profoundly homophobic comments against him and against me, and at one time called me a naughty word which suggested that I had been born the wrong side of the blanket--which I guess was a classic case of the kettle calling the pot black.

Clark Gable was a legend, as was Loretta Young. Their daughter, however, whatever else she might have achieved in her life, will only ever be remembered as "the love-child".

Another grande dame de la chanson left us this week. Cora Vaucaire passed away on 17 September, which also happens to be Fritz Wunderlich's anniversary.

Cora was one of the legends of the Left Bank which included Ferré, Mouloudji and Gréco. As such she was chanson royalty. She rose to prominence with "Frédé", a song about a sad young man with a guitar. She achieved international recognition with "La Complainte de la Butte", in the film "French CanCan". Piaf and Patachou had cameos. She was also the first to perform "Les feuilles mortes". Sadly, I never had the privilege os seeing her on stage, though I do have all of her records. When Cora Vaucaire sings "Maintenant que la jeunesse," created by Monique Morelli, it breaks your heart. Sleep in peace, Cora. You were one of the best!