Today’s birthdays

Prof Peter Higgs, Nobel Prize for Physics ( joint), 2014; Emeritus Professor of Theoretical Physics, University of Edinburgh, is 88; Mr Alwin Schockemöhle, former

showjumper, 80; Mr Colin Amery, architectural writer, critic and historian, 73; Lord Davies of Stamford, former MP, 73; Mr Martin Pipe, former racehorse

trainer, 72; Lord Berkeley of Knighton, composer and broadcaster, 69; Prof Keith Gull,

Principal of St Edmund Hall, Oxford, 69; Miss Linda Esther Gray, former opera singer, 69; Sir Graham Wynne, Chief Executive, RSPB, 1998-2010, 67; Sir Alan Langlands, Vice-chancellor of the University of Leeds, 65; Mr Giles Clarke, Chairman, England and Wales Cricket Board, 2007-15, 64; Dr Gordon Rintoul, Director, National Museums of Scotland, 62; Sir Mark Lyall Grant, diplomat; Permanent Representative to the United Nations, 2009-15, 61; the Rt Rev Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford; Bishop of Sheffield, 2008-16, 60; Mr Rupert Everett, actor, 58; Dame Barbara Woodward, Ambassador to China, 56; the Duke of Argyll, 49; Mr Robin Womack, track and field athlete; Paralympic bronze medallist, shotput, F54/55/56, London 2012, 46; and Ms Jennifer Willott, a former Liberal Democrat MP, 43. Today is Oak Apple Day, the anniversary of the restoration of King Charles II to the throne in 1660 and the anniversary of the fall of Constantinople in 1453. It is also the anniversary of the conquering of Mount Everest by Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing in 1953.