Today’s birthdays:

William Cowie, New Zealand Anglican bishop (18311902); Robert Campbell, New Zealand politician (184389); Sir William Walter Mulholland, New Zealand Farmers’ Union leader (18871971); Millicent Baxter, New Zealand peace activist (18881984); Dennis Smith, New Zealand cricketer (191386); Sir Sidney Moko Mead, New Zealand anthropologist/ historian/writer (1927); Elvis Presley (193577); Dame Shirley Bassey, Welshborn singer (1937); David Beaglehole, New Zealand physicist (19382014); Yvette Mimieux, French actress (1942); Terry Brooks, US author (1944); Robby Krieger, US musician (1946); David Bowie, English singer/songwriter (19472016); Terry Sylvester, English musician (1947); Garry Moore, New Zealand local body politician (1951); Paul MacDonald, gold medalwinning (three) New Zealand Olympic canoeist (1960); Michelle Forbes, US actress (1965); Amber Benson, US actress (1977); Lindsay Tait, New Zealand professional basketballer (1982); Gaby Hoffman, US actress (1982); Peter Latham, New Zealand international cyclist (1984); Freddie Stroma, English actor (1987); Sophie Pascoe, New Zealand Paralympic swimmer (1993).