Today’s birthdays

Prof Sir Brian Smith, Vicechancellor, Cardiff University, 1993-2001, is 86; Prof David Ingram, botanist; Master of St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, 2000-06, 78; the Earl of Stockton, publisher, 76; the Rt Rev Christopher Hill, Bishop of Guildford, 2004-13, 74; the Rt Rev John Packer, Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, 2000-14, 73; Sir Willard White, baritone, 73; Dame Karlene Davis, General Secretary, Royal College of Midwives, 1997-2008, 73; Mr Charles Dance, actor, 73; Mr Chris Tarrant, radio and television presenter, producer and writer, 73; Mr Lance Cairns, former New Zealand cricketer, 70; Mr Justice Hildyard, 67; Mr Midge Ure, musician, singer/ songwriter and producer, 66; Mr John Makinson, Chairman, National Theatre, 2010-15, 65; Dr Sir David Hempleman-adams, company director, explorer and mountaineer, 63; Mr Justice Warby, 61; Dr Mary Curnock Cook, Chief Executive, UCAS, 2010-17, 61; Mr Mark Johnston, racehorse trainer, 60; Mr Bill Rammell, Vice-chancellor and Chief Executive, University of Bedfordshire, 60; Lord Justice Phillips 58; Miss Sarah Lancashire, actress, 55; Sir Matthew Pinsent, former oarsman; four-times Olympic gold medallist, now International Rowing Umpire, 49; and Mrs Nicky Morgan, MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, 47.

Today is the anniversary of the death of Orson Wells in 1985 and of Christopher Reeve in 2004. It is also the anniversary of the birth of Giuseppe Verdi in 1813.