Birthdays

Today: Miss Teddie Beverley, singer and entertainer, is 91; Miss Babs Beverley, singer and entertainer, 91; Sir Brian Hayes, former senior civil servant, 89; Sir Victor Garland, Australian High Commissioner in London, 1981-83, 84; Baroness Corston, former Labour MP, 76; Mr Michael Palin, actor, writer and traveller; President, Royal Geographical Society, 2009-12; 75; Prof A.D. Yates, Warden of Robinson College, Cambridge, 72; Mr Roger Witcomb, Chairman, Competition Commission, 2011-14, 71; Mr James Whitaker, former Chairman of Selectors, ECB, 56; Mr Leslie Law, eventer; Olympic equestrian gold medallist, Athens 2004, 53; Mr Daffyd Rogers, theatre producer, 49; Mr James Cracknell, former rower; Olympic gold medallist, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004; adventurer, broadcaster and journalist, 46; Adele, singer and songwriter, 30; Ms Sophie Wells, para-equestrian; two-time Paralympic gold medallist, Rio 2016, and one gold medal and two silver medals, London 2012, 28; and Miss Menna Fitzpatrick, Paralympic alpine skier, gold medallist, Pyeongchang 2018, 20. Tomorrow: The Marquess of Bath will be 86; Dame Alexandra Burslem, Vicechancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University, 1997-2005, 78; Sir Roger Sands, Clerk and Chief Executive, House of Commons, 2003-06, 76; Mr Andrew Walker, Senior Partner, Lovells, 2000-2004, 73; Lord Forbes, Premier Lord in Scotland, 72; Mr Mike Newell, President, Prison Governors’ Association, 2000-05, 68; Mr Tony Blair, Prime Minister 1997-2007, 65; the Earl of Caledon, Lord-lieutenant for Co Armagh, 63; Lord Hutton of Furness, former Labour Cabinet Minister, 63; Mr Charles Hendry, Deputy Chairman, Conservative Party 2003-05, 59; Sir Tom Hunter, philanthropist; Chairman, West Coast Capital, 57; Mr George Clooney, actor, director and producer, 57; Mr Thomas Brake, MP, 56; and Ms Harriet Lee, swimmer; Paralympic bronze medallist, 100m breaststroke - SB9, London 2012, 27. Today is the anniversary of the death of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1821. Tomorrow will be the anniversary of the issue of the first postage stamp in 1840. It will also be the anniversary of Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile at the Iffley Road track, Oxford, in 1954.