Birthdays

Today: Dr the Hon Shirley Summerskill, former Labour MP, is 86; Topol, actor, 82; Dr John Davis, Warden of All Souls College, Oxford, 1995-2008, 79; Mr Richard Sharp, former England rugby international, 79; Mr Patrick Prenter, Lordlieutenant for Midlothian, 2003-13, 78; Sir Anthony May, President of the Queen’s Bench Division, 2008-11, 77; Prof Sir Adrian Smith, Vice-chancellor of the University of London, 71; Viscount Mackintosh of Halifax 59; Mr Hugh Grant, actor, 57; Prof Richard Penty, Master of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, 53; Mr Nigel Baker, diplomat; Ambassador to the Holy See, 2011-16, 51; and Ms Natasha Kaplinsky, newsreader and television presenter, 45. Tomorrow: Sir Brian Smith, Chairman, BAA plc, 1991-98, will be 89; Sir Peter Reynolds, Chairman, Ranks Hovis Mcdougall, 1981-89, 88; Prof Janet Todd, President, Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge, 2008-15, 75; the Hon Dame Shân Legge-bourke, Lord-lieutenant for Powys, 74; Sir Peter Singer, a former High Court Judge, 73; Sir Thomas Allen, baritone, 73; Dr John Robinson, Maltravers Herald Extraordinary, 69; Prof Neil Gorman, Vice-chancellor of Nottingham Trent University, 2003-14, 67; Mr Bill Rogers, golfer; Open Champion 1981, 66; Viscount Thurso, Lordlieutenant for Caithness, 64; the Hon Jackie Ashley, President, Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge, 63; Mr Colin Firth, actor, 57; and Mr Eoin Morgan, England cricketer, Captain of the ODI and Twenty20 teams, 31.

Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Flodden Field in 1513, the Marne Victory in 1914 and the Allied landing at Salerno in 1943.