Birthdays

Today: Prof Sir Brian Smith, Vice-chancellor, Cardiff University, 1993-2001, is 87; Prof David Ingram, botanist; Master of St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, 2000-06, 79; the Earl of Stockton, publisher, 77; the Rt Rev Christopher Hill, Bishop of Guildford, 2004-13, 75; the Rt Rev John Packer, Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, 2000-14, 74; Sir Willard White, baritone, 74; Dame Karlene Davis, General Secretary, Royal College of Midwives, 1997-2008, 74; Mr Charles Dance, actor, 74; Mr Chris Tarrant, radio and television presenter, producer and writer, 74; Baroness Campbell of Loughborough, Director of Women’s Football, FA; Chairman, UK Sport, 2003-13, 72; Mr Lance Cairns, former New Zealand cricketer, 71; Mr Justice Hildyard 68; Mr Midge Ure, musician, singer/ songwriter and producer, 67; Mr John Makinson, Chairman, National Theatre, 2010-15, 66; Dr Sir David Hempleman-Adams, company director, explorer and mountaineer, 64; Mr Justice Warby 62; Dr Mary Curnock Cook, Chief Executive, UCAS, 2010-17, 62; Mr Mark Johnston, racehorse trainer, 61; Mr Bill Rammell, Vice-chancellor and Chief Executive, University of Bedfordshire, 2012-19, 61; Lord Justice Phillips 59; Miss Sarah Lancashire, actress, 56; Sir Matthew Pinsent, former oarsman; four-times Olympic gold medallist, now International Rowing Umpire, 50; and Baroness Morgan of Cotes, former Conservative Cabinet Minister, 48. Tomorrow: The Sultan of Oman will be 65.

Sir Bobby Charlton, former England footballer, 83; Lord Wilson of Dinton, Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, 2002-12; Secretary of the Cabinet and Head of the Home Civil Service, 1998-2002, 78; Prof Michael Harloe, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Salford, 1997-2009, 77; Mr Thomas Wheare, Headmaster, Bryanston School, 1983-2005, 76; Mr David Rendall, tenor, 72; Miss Dawn French, actress, comedienne and writer, 63; Mr

Ryan Harris, former Australia cricketer, now coach, 41; and Mr James Crisp, swimmer; Paralympic silver medallist, men’s 100m backstroke, S9, London 2012, 38.

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.

Tomorrow will be the anniversary of the raising of the Mary Rose in Portsmouth in 1982.