Birthdays

Today: Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Le Cheminant, Lieutenantgovernor and C-in-c of Guernsey, 1980-85, is 97; Sir Simon Bowes Lyon, Lord-lieutenant for Hertfordshire, 1986-2007, 85; Sir Patrick Fairweather, former diplomat, 81; Mr Ken Loach, television and film director, 81; Lord Anderson of Swansea, former Labour MP, 78; Miss Jennifer Durrant, painter, 75; Mr Barry Manilow, singer and

songwriter, 74; Mr Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, 2000-08, 72; Mr Eddy Merckx, former road cyclist; five times winner of the Tour de France, 72;

Prof John Craven, Vice-chancellor of the University of Portsmouth, 1997-2013, 68; Mr Robert Scott, Lord-lieutenant for Co Tyrone, 66; Baroness Morris of Yardley, former Labour Government Minister, 65; Dame Judith

Macgregor, diplomat; former High Commissioner to South Africa, 65;

Ms Justice Russell 59; Miss Venus Williams, tennis player; Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles Champion, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2008; 37; Ms Helen Glover, rower; Olympic gold medallist, women’s pair, Rio 2016 and London 2012, 31; and Miss Laura Wright, soprano, 27. Tomorrow: Mr Michael Blakemore, director, will be 89;

Gen Sir Brian Kenny, Bath King of Arms, 1999-2009, 83; Miss Delia Smith, cookery writer and broadcaster, 76; Sir Paul Mccartney, musician, composer and former member of the Beatles, 75; Mr Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa, 1999-2008, 75; Mr John Kelsall, Headmaster, Brentwood School, 1993-2004, 74; Mr Fabio Capello, football manager; Manager, England football team, 2008-12, 71; Mr

Justice Globe 68; Prof Ian Hargreaves, journalist, 66; Miss Isabella Rossellini, actress, 65; Mr Derek Deane, choreographer; Artistic Director, English National Ballet, 1993-2001, 64; Miss Alison Moyet, singer and songwriter, 56; the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne 31; and Mr Moeen Ali, England cricketer, 30. Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775. Tomorrow will be the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.