Birthdays

Today: Lord Stoddart of Swindon is 93; Miss Marisa Robles, harpist, 82; Mr Graham Swift, author, 70;

Ms Jane Kennedy, former Labour Government Minister, 61; Dame

Caroline Spelman, MP, 61; Sir Tony Mccoy, former National Hunt jockey and 20 times Champion Jockey; broadcaster and President, Injured Jockeys Fund, 45; and Mr Rory Mcilroy, golfer; four times Major Champion: Open 2014, US Open 2011, and PGA Championship 2012 and 2014, 30. Tomorrow: Sir Brian Hayes, former senior civil servant, will be 90; Sir Victor Garland, Australian High Commissioner in London, 1981-83, 85; Baroness Corston, former Labour MP, 77; Mr Michael

Palin, actor, writer and traveller; President, Royal Geographical Society, 2009-12; 76; Prof A.D.

Yates, Warden of Robinson College, Cambridge, 73; Mr Roger

Witcomb, Chairman, Competition Commission, 2011-14, 72; Mr James

Whitaker, Chairman of Selectors, ECB, 2014-18, 57; Mr Leslie Law, eventer; Olympic equestrian gold medallist, Athens 2004, 54; Mr

Daffyd Rogers, theatre producer, 50; Mr James Cracknell, oarsman; Olympic gold medallist, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004; adventurer, broadcaster and journalist, 47; Adele, singer and songwriter, 31; Ms Sophie Wells, para-equestrian; two-time Paralympic gold medallist, Rio 2016, and one gold medal and two silver medals, London 2012, 29; and Miss Menna Fitzpatrick,

Paralympic alpine skier, gold medallist, Pyeongchang 2018, 21. Today is the anniversary of the first running of the Derby in 1780. It is also the anniversary of the election of Mrs Margaret Thatcher (Baroness Thatcher) as Prime Minister in 1979. Tomorrow will be the anniversary of the death of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1821.