Today’s birthdays

Sir David Harrison, Master of Selwyn College, Cambridge, 1994-2000, is 88; Sir Graham Day, former company chairman, 85; Lord Hotham 78; Gen Sir Alexander Harley, Master Gunner, St James’s Park, 2001-08, 77; Mr Peter Oosterhuis, former golfer and commentator, 70; Prof Sir Liam Donaldson, Chancellor, Newcastle University; Chief Medical Officer, 1998-2010, 69; Mr Ken Hom, chef, author and broadcaster, 69; Sir Nicholas Stadlen, a former High Court Judge, 68; Mr Allan Wells, former track and field sprinter; Olympic gold medallist, 100m, Moscow 1980, 66; Mrs Sarah Rose Troughton, Lordlieutenant for Wiltshire, 65; Mr Peter Duncan, Chief Scout, The Scout Association UK, 2004-09, 64; Mr Colin Deans, former Scotland rugby international, 63; Dr Timothy Evans, Apothecary to the Queen and to the Royal Household, 63; Sir Alan Parker, Founder and Chairman, Brunswick Group LLP, 62; Miss Sandi Toksvig, writer and comedienne, 60; Mr Ben Elton, comedian and author, 59; and Mrs Kathy Cook, former sprinter; three time Olympic bronze medallist, 58.

Today is the anniversary of the opening of The Royal Festival Hall as part of the Festival of Britain in 1951.