Alain Delon, born 1935 (died 2024) was one of the great cinema stars of the 20^th century.  Irresistibly good looking the French thespian wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

The movie star was just 4-years old when his Parisian parents divorced after which there was no settled home. The French navy wasn’t the answer either as he spent 11 months of his 48-month service in the slammer. Elon was also caught up in the fiercest battle of French-Occupied Indo-China.

His luck changed when spotted by a talent scout in 1957, the Frenchman began his movie career. Delon went on to become a silverscreen heartthrob. The personable Parisian was also a successful businessman but was later caught up in a sex scandal at the highest level of French society.

Nevertheless, or perhaps because of his colourful background, the actor, who was once engaged to Romy Schneider became disillusioned with life and cynical about later generations.

During an interview with the French newspaper Paris Match, the then 82-year-old movie legend said: he will die without regret because he hates the age we live in.

“There is no more respect, no word. Only money matters. We hear about crime all day. I know I’ll leave the world without regret. Life doesn’t give me much anymore, I know everything, and I’ve seen everything. But first of all, I hate this age.”

As I too approach my dotage, I can relate to Delon’s sense of disappointment. Having also suffered a difficult childhood, improved upon by fate’s dance of death to my grave I still find much to cheer me.

The greatest stories are those never written. We can be certain that our readers have woven their own tapestry. Doubtless, many stories will be colourful. But as the saying goes the best experiences are never talked about.

Perhaps readers should be invited to pick up their pens and to also write a brief obituary not on themselves but on life as did Alain Delon.

It is difficult for me to so as the screen legend has already spoken for me. Like Delon, I am thankful that I was born into a world which for all of its difficulties was far happier, more challenging and more fulfilling.

Our post-war generation found life little changed from the life experienced by our forebears.  Today’s generation is born into a challenging world that quite frankly arouses no envy in me. I wish them luck for they are going to need it.

Our generation were mostly born unlucky but they individually or in career groups made their luck. Today’s generation was born lucky in material wealth but I doubt very much they will be able to reflect on their lives as fondly as Delon and his contemporaries can comment on theirs. I wonder what their obituary on life will be when they approach their dotage. WRITER MICHAEL WALSH.

THE ENIGMA OF TIFFANY Michael Walsh Award-Winning Writer. The elegant and glamorous Tiffany is a rich widow with a shady and shocking past when she meets Gareth, Leonara and Felicity holidaying on the Spanish Riviera. But who is Tiffany and Pegasus her gay partner? A romantic comedy with an ending that has you reaching for your Kleenex.   A reader writes, ‘I thoroughly enjoyed it.’ There is girl talk, excitement, revelations, dilemmas, compromises, romance and pathos.

LINK TO BOOK    https://tinyurl.com/52nmpnjz