The news that former Guardian editor Peter Preston has died at the age of 79 adds to several notable names that have died in 2018.
- JANUARY
PETER PRESTON, 79, JOURNALIST AND FORMER EDITOR AT THE GUARDIAN
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Peter Preston joined the Guardian in 1963, was editor between 1975 and 1995 and later went on to be a columnist for the Guardian and Observer.
He died at home on Saturday night 10 years after melanoma first struck and 20 months after it returned. He was 79.
JERRY VAN DYKE, 86, ACTOR AND COMEDIAN
Actor and comedian Jerry Van Dyke won four Emmy nominations for his role in the US sitcom Coach.
Van Dyke was the younger brother of actor Dick Van Dyke, known for the musical films Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
After an early career in stand-up comedy, the junior Van Dyke turned to acting, appearing on The Dick Van Dyke Show in 1962 as the sibling of his real-life brother. He went on to appear regularly on The Judy Garland Show. He died ageed 86.
JOHN YOUNG, 87, ASTRONAUT
Astronaut John Young's Nasa career lasted 42 years during which time he walked on the moon and later commanded on the first space shuttle flight.
Mr Young became the first person to rocket away from Earth six times. Counting his takeoff from the moon in 1972 as commander of Apollo 16, his blastoff tally stood at seven, for decades a world record.
He flew twice during the two-man Gemini missions of the mid-1960s, twice to the moon during the Apollo programme, and twice more aboard the new space shuttle Columbia in the early 1980s.
RAY THOMAS, 76, SINGER-SONGWRITER WITH THE MOODY BLUES
Ray Thomas started out in blues and soul groups in the 1960s and later formed The Moody Blues alongside Mike Pinder, Denny Laine, Graeme Edge and Clint Warwick.
The rock band's hits include Go Now, Nights In White Satin and Question.
Thomas also enjoyed solo success with albums From Mighty Oaks and Hopes Wishes And Dreams.
The Moody Blues, including Thomas, were to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.