Today’s birthdays

Dr E.S. Page, Vice-chancellor, University of Reading, 1979-93, is 89; Prof Sir Tony Wrigley,

Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, 1994-2000, 86; Sir

Vidia Naipaul, author; winner of Nobel Prize for Literature 2001, 85; Miss Elizabeth Llewellynsmith, Principal of St Hilda’s College, Oxford, 1990-2001, 83; Sir Hugo Brunner, Lordlieutenant for Oxfordshire, 1996-2008, 82; Mr Seamus Mallon, former MP, 81; Sir Ian Mcallister, Chairman, Network Rail, 2002-09, 74; Mr Ian Brindle, Deputy Chairman, Financial Reporting Review Panel, 2001-08, 74; Mr Robert de Niro, actor and producer, 74; Mr John Humphrys, journalist and

broadcaster, 74; Mr Peter Field, Lord-lieutenant for East Sussex, 71; Dame Mary Marsh, Founding Director, Clore Social Leadership Programme, 2008-14; Director and Chief Executive, NSPCC, 2000-08, 71; Lord Fellowes of West Stafford, screenwriter, actor and producer, 68; Mr Alan Minter, former boxer; former World Middleweight Champion, 66; Mr Justice Morgan 65; Mr Guillermo Vilas, former tennis player, 65; Mr Nelson Piquet, former racing driver; three-times Formula One World Motor Racing Champion, 65; Air Vice-marshal

Peter Dye, historian; Director General, RAF Museum, 2009-14, 64; Mr Robin Cousins, former competitive figure skater; Olympic gold medallist, Lake Placid 1980, 60; Mr Sean Penn, actor, director and writer, 57; Mr

Ian Blatchford, Director, Science Museum, 52; and Mr Liam Heath, sprint canoeist; Olympic medallist, Rio 2016 and London 2012, 33. Today is the anniversary of the raid on Peenemunde in 1943.