Today’s birthdays

Sir John Lyons, Master of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, 1984-2000, is 86; Dame Joan Collins, actress and writer, 85; Dr Walter Eltis, Chief Economic Adviser to the President of the Board of Trade, 1992-95, 85; Lord Grenfell 83; Mrs J.J.D’A. Campbell, Mistress of Girton College, Cambridge, 1992-98, 83; the Very Rev John Drury, Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, 1991-2003, 82; Prof Alan Bowman, Principal, Brasenose College, Oxford, 2011-15, 74; Mr John Newcombe, former tennis player; three-times Wimbledon Men’s Singles Champion, 74; Dr Anatoly Karpov, chess grandmaster and former World Champion, 67; Prof Jack Lohman, CEO, Royal British Columbia Museum; Director, Museum of London, 2002-12, 60; Mr Graeme Hick, former England cricketer, 52; and Mr George Osborne, Editor, Evening Standard; former Conservative MP; Chancellor of the Exchequer, 2010-16, 47.

Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Ramillies in 1706.