Today’s birthdays

Mrs Barbara Taylor Bradford, author, is 85; Sir William Lithgow, industrialist and farmer, 84; Sir Bill Cash, MP, 78; Sir Win Bischoff, Chairman of the Financial Reporting Council; Chairman, Lloyds Banking Group, 2009-14; 77; Dr Ken Kennedy, former Ireland rugby player, 77; Lady Worsthorne (Lucinda Lambton), photographer, writer and broadcaster, 75; Sir John Laws, a former Lord Justice of Appeal, 73; Miss Maureen Lipman, actress, 72; Sir Christopher Gent, Chairman, Convatec; Chairman, Glaxosmithkline, 2002-15, 70; Mr Barnaby Lenon, Chairman, Independent Schools Council; Head Master, Harrow School, 1999-2011; 64; Prof Edward Peck, Vice-chancellor of Nottingham Trent University, 59; Bono, singer and songwriter, 58; Mr Blyth Tait, three day event rider; Olympic gold medallist, Atlanta 1996, 57; Ms Debbie Wiseman, conductor, film and television composer, 55; Ms Deborah Criddle, paraequestrian; gold medallist, team championship, silver medallist individual championship test, Grade II, and individual freestyle test, Grade III, London 2012, 52; Mr Jonathan Edwards, former triple jumper; former Olympic, Commonwealth, European and World Champion, now broadcaster, 52; and Mr Jon Schofield, canoeist; Olympic bronze medallist, kayak double (K2) 200m, London 2012, 33.

Today is the anniversary of Winston Churchill becoming Prime Minister in 1940.