Today’s birthdays

Sir Robert Andrew, former senior civil servant, is 89; Mr Joe Mercer, former jockey, 83; Sir George Russell, television executive, 82;

Mr A.C. Smith, Chief Executive, TCCB, 1987-96, 81; Sir Stanley

Burnton, a former Lord Justice of Appeal, 75; Mr Keith Clark,

Chairman, Clifford Chance, 2000-2002, 73; Sir Bernard

Hogan-howe, former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, 60; Sir Ciaran Devane,

CEO, British Council, 55; Mr

Dominic Dromgoole, Artistic Director, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, 2006-16, 54; and Mr

Michael Lynagh, former Australia rugby union player, 54. Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 and of the Battle of Balaclava in 1854. It is also the anniversary of the death of Geoffrey Chaucer in 1400.