Today’s birthdays
Mr Francis Jackson, Organist and Master of the Music, York Minster, 1946-82, now Organist Emeritus, is 101; Mr Sam
Wainwright, Deputy Chairman, Post Office Corporation, 1981-85, 94; Miss Jan Morris, writer, 92;
Sir Robin Duthie, Chairman, Scottish Development Agency, 1979-88, 90; Prof Sir John
Gurdon, joint winner Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine, 2012; Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, 1995-2002, 85; Lord
Scott of Foscote, a former Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, 84; Dr
Duncan Thomson, Keeper, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1982-97, 84; Mr Peter Frankl, pianist, 83; Lord Davies,
Chairman, Welsh National Opera Company, 1975-2000, 78; Sir
Christopher Pitchers, a former
High Court Judge, 76; Miss Anna Ford, broadcaster, 75; Sir Trevor
Brooking, former England footballer and administrator; broadcaster, 70; Mr Peter
Freeman, QC, Chairman, Competition Appeal Tribunal; Chairman, Competition Commission, 2006-11, 70; Mr
David Levin, Managing Director, Independent Schools, United Learning; Headmaster, City of London School, 1999-2013, 69; Sting (Mr Gordon Sumner), musician, songwriter and actor, 67; Dame Nancy Rothwell,
President and Vice-chancellor of the University of Manchester, 63;
Dr Jon Speelman, chess grandmaster, mathematician and chess writer, 62; Mr Wade
Dooley, former England rugby player, 61; Mr Keith Bradshaw,
Secretary and Chief Executive, MCC, 2006-11, 55; Miss Victoria
Derbyshire, journalist and broadcaster, 50; Mr Liam Byrne,
MP, 48; Mr Matt Hancock, MP,
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, 40; Ms Marion
Bartoli, former tennis player; Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles Champion, 2013, 34; Mr George
Nash, former rower; Olympic gold medallist, men’s coxless pair, Rio 2016, and bronze medallist, men’s coxless pair, London 2012; three-times World Champion, 29; and Mr Gordon Reid, tennis player; Wimbledon Men’s Wheelchair Doubles Champion 2017; Paralympic gold medallist, Rio 2016, 27.
Today is the anniversary of the birth of Marshal Foch in 1851 and of Mahatma Gandhi in 1869.