This week: A champion hurdle-winning trainer, a jazz musician and an actor known for Diamonds Are Forever

CHAMPION Hurdle-winning former trainer Mercy Rimell, who has died aged 98, started training at the historic Kinnersley yard in 1981 following the death of her husband, the legendary Fred Rimell, and saddled Gaye Brief to Champion Hurdle glory at the 1983 Cheltenham Festival.

She retired from training in the late 1980s, but continued to be involved in racing and was the owner-breeder of Simon, who was from the dynasty that produced Gaye Brief and ended up running in two Grand Nationals.

Mercy Rimell also saddled Gaye Chance to victory in the 1984 Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and won the Arkle Trophy three years later with Gala's Image.

The John Spearing-trained Simon was regularly ridden by Andrew Thornton, who said Rimell was "wonderful woman". "I had ever so much time for Mercy," he said. "She was straight down the line, to the point and direct - and that's what I loved about her. If you didn't like it, tough.

"I always used to visit her and you could guarantee, even at 98, she would be dressed in her finery - with rings on, her jewellery on and her make-up on.

"She always wanted you to see her at her best, and I'm sure that's how she'd liked to be remembered.

"I didn't ride for her for about seven years after Simon and then Barton Gift, who she jointly-owned and bred, came along and he was my 998th winner at Bangor last December.

"I remember one time she came up to me about Barton Gift and said, 'Andrew, is this horse any good?', and I said that he was, but he needs time. And then Mercy said to me, 'Andrew, time is something I don't have!'. That just typified Mercy and her sense of humour. She was a wonderful woman."

THE jazz musician Ray Phiri,who has died aged 70, was a South African who founded the band Stimela and became internationally known while performing on Paul Simon's Graceland tour.

Phiri, a vocalist and guitarist known for his versatility in jazz fusion, indigenous South African rhythms and other styles, received many music awards in his home country.

His death was met with nationwide tributes.

"He was a musical giant. This is indeed a huge loss for South Africa and the music industry as a whole," President Jacob Zuma said in a statement.

Political parties also expressed condolences, saying Phiri's songs resonated among many South Africans, particularly during the era of white minority rule that ended in 1994.

"An immensely gifted composer, vocalist and guitarist, he breathed consciousness and agitated thoughts of freedom through his music," said the ruling African National Congress party.

South Africa's main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, said many people grew up with Phiri's music.

"In the 1970s, Phiri's music spoke to issues that are still affecting our people today," the party said.

Stimela's best-known albums include Fire, Passion And Ecstasy and Look, Listen And Decide, and Phiri contributed as a guitarist to Simon's Graceland album in the 1980s.

The album evolved from Simon's interest in indigenous South African music.

THE British actor Joe Robinson, who has died aged 90, famously took on Sean Connery's James Bond in a fierce lift fight in Diamonds Are Forever.

He played a diamond smuggler in the 1971 film and was eventually overcome in the fight after Bond used a fire extinguisher to defeat him.

The official James Bond Twitter account paid tribute to the star alongside a clip of the scene.

They wrote: "We are sad to hear that Joe Robinson, Peter Franks in Diamonds are Forever, has passed away aged 90. Our thoughts are with his family."

Robinson died peacefully in Brighton after a short illness.