Today’s birthdays

Adml Sir Brian Brown, Chairman, King George’s Fund for Sailors, 1993-2003, is 84; Mr

Bryan Organ, painter, 83; Dame Liz Forgan, writer and broadcaster; Chairman, Arts Council of England, 2009-13, 74;

Prof Christine King, Vicechancellor and Chief Executive of Staffordshire University, 1995-2011, 74; Mr Clive Lloyd, International Match Referee, ICC, 2002-06; former West Indies cricket captain, 74; Sir Colin Budd, former diplomat, 73; Sir

Van Morrison, singer and songwriter, 73; Mr Itzhak Perlman, violinist and conductor,

73; Mr Richard Gere, actor, 69; Brig Tom Foulkes, Director General, Institution of Civil Engineers, 2002-11, 68; Mr Ed

Moses, former field and track athlete; Olympic gold medallist, 400m hurdles, Montreal 1976, and Los Angeles 1984, and former world record holder, 63; M Serge

Blanco, former France rugby player, 60; the Rt Rev Stephen

Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford, 60; Mrs Tina Cook, three day event rider; Olympic silver medallist, team eventing, London 2012, 48; Mr Padraig Harrington, golfer; Open Champion 2007 and 2008, 47; and Mr Chris Rogers, former Australia cricketer, 41. Today is the anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997 and of John Bunyan in 1688.