Today’s birthdays

Lady Antonia Fraser, writer, is 88; Sir Michael Holroyd, author, 85; Sir Mark Potter, President of the Family Division and Head of Family Justice, 2005-10, 83; Mr James Wyness, Senior Partner, Linklaters and Paines, 1994-96, 83; Sir John Royce, a former High

Court Judge, 76; Lt Gen Sir

Alistair Irwin, Vice Chairman, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 2011-13; Adjutant General, 2003-05, 72; Prof

Deborah Swallow, Märit Rausing Director, Courtauld Institute of Art, 72; Mr Andrew Mackay, former Conservative MP, 71; Miss

Ann Murray, mezzo-soprano, 71; the Rt Rev Christine Hardman,

Bishop of Newcastle, 69; the Rt Rev Donald Allister, Bishop of

Peterborough, 68; Mr John Lloyd, commentator; former tennis player, 66; Mr Bernhard Langer, golfer; two times Masters Champion and Captain, Ryder Cup Team 2004, 63; Sir Hugh Orde, President, Association of Chief Police Officers, 2009-15, 62; Mr

Justice Turner 61; Mr Gerhard Berger, former Formula One racing driver, 61; Miss Sian Edwards, conductor, 61; Prof

Jeanette Winterson, writer, 61; Mr David Morgan-hewitt,

Managing Director, The Goring, 58; Mr Peter Ebdon, snooker player; World Champion, 2002, 50; Miss Denise Lewis, former athlete; Olympic gold medallist, heptathlon, Sydney 2000, 48; Miss

Suranne Jones, actress, 42; Mr Ed Mckeever, canoeist; Olympic gold medallist, men’s kayak single (K1) 200m, London 2012, 37; and Mr

Aaron Mckibbin, table tennis player; Paralympic bronze medallist, table tennis team, Class 6-8, London 2012, 29.

Today is the anniversary of the drilling of the world’s first oil well in Pennsylvania in 1859 and of the birth of Donald Bradman, Australia cricketer, in 1908.