David Mackenzie: Director, Writer

🎬 Early Life: A Scottish Imagination in Motion

David Hugh Mackenzie was born 10 May 1966 in Corbridge, Northumberland, the son of Scottish parents whose roots ran deep into Perthshire and Dundee. His father, Rear Admiral John Mackenzie, served in the Royal Navy, and his mother, Ursula Balfour, maintained the family’s strong cultural ties to Scotland.

David grew up in rural Perthshire alongside his younger brother Alastair Mackenzie, who would later become a well‑known actor. The two brothers shared a creative streak from an early age—one that would eventually lead them to co‑found Sigma Films, a Glasgow‑based production company that became a cornerstone of Scotland’s modern film industry.

Sabrina D'Amore: Burlesque Performer

Sabrina D’Amore has become a familiar name within Western Australia’s vibrant burlesque and

alternative‑arts community, known for her polished stage presence, expressive movement, and warm rapport with audiences. Based in Baldivis, she has spent more than six years shaping a career that blends performance, modeling, and digital content creation into a single, evolving artistic identity.

Her entry into burlesque coincided with a broader revival of the art form in Perth, where festivals and grassroots performance venues were creating space for new voices. Sabrina quickly found her footing, developing a style rooted in modern dance, classic burlesque aesthetics, and a confident, playful stage persona. Her petite stature and striking blonde‑and‑blue‑eyed look became part of her visual signature, but it was her professionalism and versatility that earned her steady opportunities.

Delrhonda Hood: "Big Fifty" Detroit's Queenpin

Early Life on Detroit’s East Side

Delrhonda Denise Hood was born on October 28, 1965, the eldest of five children in a family struggling

with poverty and instability. Growing up, she developed a reputation for being tough, outspoken, and physically imposing — traits that would later help her navigate Detroit’s criminal underworld. By age 15, she was pregnant with her first child, forced into adulthood early and with few economic options. 

Her teenage years were marked by petty crime, shoplifting, and drug use. She cycled in and out of juvenile detention, never attending college and learning instead from the streets.

Rise as “Big Fifty” — Detroit’s Queenpin

By the late 1980s and early 1990s, Hood had carved out her own territory in Detroit’s drug economy. She became known as “Big Fifty,” a nickname referencing both her physical presence and her dominance in the game. She operated independently — rare for women in the drug trade — and built a multimillion‑dollar empire through narcotics, fraud, and other illicit ventures.

Jean Ratelle: Hockey Hall of Fame

Jean Ratelle’s story begins on October 3, 1940, in Lac Saint‑Jean, Quebec, where the frozen ponds of the Laurentian Highlands shaped a quiet, disciplined boy into one of the most elegant and respected players in NHL history. Born Joseph Gilbert Yvon Jean Ratelle, he grew up in a French‑Canadian family where

hockey was woven into daily life. His father, Léo Ratelle, a dentist, encouraged hard work and humility — traits that would define Jean’s career as much as his scoring touch.

From an early age, Ratelle displayed a natural grace on the ice. He starred in junior hockey with the Guelph Biltmores, where his smooth skating and precise passing set him apart. His ascent into the New York Rangers organization came just before the NHL Entry Draft era, and by 1961 he was beginning to carve out a place in the league. But at age 23, his promising career nearly ended: a severe back injury required major spinal cord surgery, threatening everything he had worked for. Ratelle’s recovery — slow, disciplined, and determined — became the first defining chapter of his legacy.

Charity baseball game

The charity baseball game held on September 15, 1952, at Gilmore Field Stadium in Los Angeles was a

significant event that brought together celebrities and athletes for a cause. Marilyn Monroe, known for her roles in the film industry, and Dale Robertson, a well-known television western actor, participated in this event. Monroe was in the midst of promoting her film "Niagara" at the time, while Robertson was recognized for his work in the 1950s and 60s television westerns. The game was organized as part of the "Out of this World Series baseball charity game," and it featured participants such as boxer Art Aragon and actors Mickey Rooney and Dale Robertson. The event not only provided entertainment but also raised funds for a good cause, showcasing the power of celebrity collaboration in charitable efforts.

Cosimo Fusco: Italian, American actor, producer, writer

Cosimo Fusco grew up in the ancient stonework and sun‑washed streets of Matera, a city whose dramatic

landscapes have inspired filmmakers for generations. Born on 23 September 1962, he was surrounded from childhood by a sense of history and spectacle—caves carved into cliffs, churches rising from rock, and a culture that valued storytelling. It was the kind of environment that quietly shapes an artist long before he knows he is one.

As a young man, Fusco left southern Italy to chase a wider world. He studied acting in Rome, Paris, and Los Angeles, absorbing different traditions and techniques with the curiosity of someone who understood that craft is built from many influences. Those years abroad gave him a cosmopolitan edge: he could move between languages, between cultures, between styles. It would become one of his greatest strengths.

Ollie Smith: Rugby player

Ollie Smith grew up in Prestwick with the kind of childhood that quietly builds a rugby player long before anyone notices. The game was simply part of the rhythm of life—cold mornings at Marr RFC, muddy

boots left by the door, and the steady encouragement of a family that understood both the joy and the discipline of sport. He was quick to fall in love with the ball in his hands, and even quicker to show that he had a natural feel for the game’s open spaces.

As he moved through Ayr RFC and into Scotland’s age‑grade pathways, Smith’s talent sharpened. Wellington School gave him his first taste of structured competition, and Strathallan School refined it. At Strathallan, he wasn’t just another promising teenager; he was part of a team that believed in itself enough to win the Scottish Schools’ Cup. That victory didn’t just put a medal around his neck—it marked him as someone who could thrive under pressure.

Laurie Duff: Rugby player

Laurie Duff’s life began in Uddingston, Scotland, where he was born on 12 November 1912 . His

childhood was shaped by the rhythms of rural work and the physical demands of helping his father—an experience he later joked made him “his father’s sheepdog,” spending long days chasing sheep across the fields around Glasgow. That early, unstructured athleticism built the stamina and strength that would define his sporting career. 
Early Life & First Steps Into Sport

Duff attended Glasgow Academy, leaving formal schooling at fifteen to work with his family. But sport quickly became his true education. At 17, he joined Uddingston Rugby Club, where his natural fitness and competitive spirit stood out. He trained obsessively—boxing, ju‑jitsu, running—and soon progressed to Glasgow Academicals, one of Scotland’s respected amateur sides.

Luke Crump: Artist

Luke Crump is a British visual artist known for his bold, character‑driven “doodle” style—an instantly

recognisable blend of pop art, street art, and playful surrealism. His work appears on canvases, murals, apparel, shoes, guitars, vehicles, album covers, and even public installations, with collectors in 30+ countries.
🎨 Early Life & Creative Beginnings

Born in England, Crump’s love for art intensified after his family moved to Belgium when he was eight. With both parents teaching design, he spent countless hours in school workshops drawing, building models, and experimenting creatively.

He returned to the UK for his GCSEs and later pursued graphic design—first through an apprenticeship in sign‑making and vehicle wrapping, then briefly at university. The highly digital, desk‑bound nature of graphic design left him disillusioned, ultimately steering him toward a more expressive, hands‑on artistic path.

Norway Murders

In the spring of 1999, the Orderud family was already living under a cloud of fear. The previous summer,

explosives had been discovered under Anne Orderud Paust’s car, and a month later a gasoline‑soaked propane tank was found outside her apartment — both clear attempts on her life. No one was charged, but the incidents drew national attention and cast suspicion on those close to the family.

On the night of 22 May 1999, an assailant entered the Orderud kårbolig and shot Anne and her elderly parents multiple times with two different weapons. The brutality of the scene shocked investigators: Kristian and Marie were killed in their bedroom and hallway, while Anne was found on the kitchen floor, struck by several close‑range shots.

The Onieal Family

Onieal’s, located at 174 Grand Street in the heart of SoHo and Little Italy, stands as one of Manhattan’s most distinctive historic bars. Its story begins in the early 20th century, when the building sat directly

across from the old NYPD Police Headquarters—an area long known for its mix of wealth, corruption, and crime.
A Speakeasy with a Secret Tunnel

During Prohibition, Onieal’s operated as a speakeasy, a brothel, and a gambling parlor. The neighborhood’s notorious corruption led to the construction of an underground tunnel connecting the bar directly to the police headquarters across the street. This allowed uniformed officers and officials to slip into the establishment unseen. The tunnel later became part of the bar’s wine cellar and remains visible today, though it was filled in when the police building was converted into luxury condos in 1987.

Tom Plunkett: Civil War Hero

I’ve come across a Civil War hero in the family tree. The husband of my 3rd cousin, four times removed,

Helen Lorimer was the civil war hero Thomas F. Plunkett. When war broke out Thomas was working as a boot maker and was engaged to be married to Helen.

Thomas enlisted with Company E, 21st Massachusetts infantry regiment during the Civil War. Tom had noticed after the battle of Chantilly that a friend had gone missing. He set aside his rifle and went to try and locate his friend when he came across a Confederate soldier. Tom was unarmed and managed to surprise the soldier from behind and take his rifle. He then marched his prisoner back to camp. Tom was made a Sergeant for this act.

Two weeks later at the battle of South Mountain Tom came across a wounded union officer leaning against a barn. The officer requested water which Tom provided and he made sure the officer was good before continuing to fight.

Fletcha Middleton: British Cricket player

Fletcha Scott Middleton (born 21 January 2002) is an English professional cricketer and one of

Hampshire’s most promising young batters. A right‑handed top‑order player and right‑arm off‑break bowler, Middleton has steadily risen through Hampshire’s ranks to become a regular feature in their First‑Class and List A sides.
Early Life and Development

Born in Winchester, Hampshire, Middleton grew up in a cricketing family—his father, Tony Middleton, played for Hampshire from 1984 to 1995 and later became the club’s batting coach. This strong cricketing environment shaped Fletcha’s early interest in the sport.

He joined Hampshire’s youth system at a young age, progressing rapidly from the Under‑14 side to the Under‑17s and the Academy by age 15. Middleton soon became one of the standout talents in age‑group cricket, earning recognition as the best batter in the ECB Lions Super 4s, a national Under‑17 competition.

Family Archeologist

Origins of an Explorer

Michael Alexander Arbuthnot was born on June 9, 1974, and grew up with a curiosity that pulled him

toward the edges of maps and the mysteries beneath the surface of things. His early academic path was unconventional for an archaeologist: a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy with a minor in Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Philosophy sharpened his instinct for questioning assumptions; anthropology gave him the tools to seek answers in the material traces of human lives. By the time he entered Florida State University for his master’s degree, he had already begun to gravitate toward the world beneath the waves. He graduated magna cum laude, specializing in underwater archaeology—a field that would define much of his career.