THEY’RE calling the closing of Britain’s best-selling newspaper the End of the World. But the sudden death of the News of the World is but one of a whole string of familiar things that have finished suddenly this summer. What – and who – else are we seeing the back of this month?

The Space Shuttle

There won’t be a dry eye at Cape Canaveral when Atlantis, due to blast off yesterday afternoon, quits her launch-pad at the Kennedy Space Centre. Her flight marks the end of the 30-year shuttle programme.

Fascinating Fact: the last flight will take the first iPhone into space. A new app has been devised for astronauts to use.

Jonny Saunders

Chris Evans’ trusty sidekick on the Radio 2 Breakfast show quit yesterday to pursue a career in teaching. “It's been non-stop and hugely entertaining,” he said. “There's only so long though, that one can cope with the 3.50am alarm calls!”

Fascinating Fact: In his downtime Jonny enjoys mobile DJ-ing “weddings, birthday parties - proper cheesy music only.”

Harry Potter movies

TEARS flowed again, this time in Leicester Square, as actress Emma Watson and her co-stars prepared to say the final goodbyes to playing their characters with the premiere of Deathly Hallows Part 2.

“I’ve just had the most amazing 10 years of my life and I feel so grateful,” she wept.

“It’s so sad for us it’s all over.”

Fascinating Fact: Harry’s infamous scar has been put on with makeup approximately 5,800 times over the length of the movie franchise.

This is not only on Daniel Radcliffe (pictured), who has had the scar applied approximately 2,000 times, but also on his doubles and stunt doubles, all of whom wear the scar.

Rhododendrons on Brownsea Island

The National Trust has just launched a special raffle for the chance to chop down the last remaining rhododendron on Brownsea Island. Beautiful in the garden, the blowsy bushes crowd out native flowers and butterflies.

Fascinating Fact: The Battle of the Brownsea Rhodies has taken 50 years as they all have to be removed by hand to avoid machinery squashing and upsetting wildlife.

Pat from EastEnders

Yes, it’s true, after 25 years on the BBC soap actress Pam St Clement announced this week she is hanging up her earrings and quitting the show to go travelling.

Fascinating Fact: Pam is a keen conservationist who enjoys horse-riding.

PS: The actual End of the World – Predicted (by American evangelists) for May 21 failed to materialise. Fascinating Fact: The doom-mongers have set a new date of October 21…