Birthdays

Today: Lord Young of Graffham, Chairman, Cable and Wireless, 1990-95, is 89; Mr George Marwick, Lord-lieutenant for Orkney, 1997-2007, 89; Prof

Sir Brian Heap, Master of St Edmund’s College, Cambridge, 1996-2004, 86; Viscount Head 84; Dame Antoinette Sibley, prima ballerina; President, Royal Academy of Dance, 1991-2012, 82; Sir Donald Mckinnon, Secretary-general of the Commonwealth, 2000-08, 82; Air Chief Marshal Sir Sandy Wilson, Air Member for Personnel, 199395, 80; Prof Sir John Skehel, Director, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, 1987-2006, 80; Mr Graeme Pollock, former South Africa cricketer, 77; Rabbi Baroness Neuberger, Chief Executive, The King’s Fund, 1997-2004, 71; Mrs Jane Macleod, Lord-lieutenant for Argyll and Bute, 68; Mr Timothy Spall, actor, 64; Mr Marais Erasmus, former South Africa cricketer; ICC Umpire, 57; Ms Hilary Mcgrady, Director-general, National Trust, 55; and Mr Richard Waddon, road and track racing cyclist; Paralympic silver medallist, mixed team sprint (C15), London 2012, 44.

Tomorrow: Sir Peter Baxendell, Chairman, Shell, 1979-85, will be 96; the Rt Rev John Davies, Bishop of St Asaph, 1999-2008, 78; Sir Philip Bailhache, Bailiff of Jersey, 1995-2009, 75; Sir Bill Jeffrey, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, 2005-10, 73; Sir Adrian Montague, Chairman, Aviva, 2015-20; Chairman, AWG plc, 2009-15; 73; Sir Peter Stothard, author; Editor, The Times Literary Supplement, 2002-16; Editor, The Times, 1992-2002, 70; Lord Kerslake, Chairman, King’s College Hospital Foundation, 2015-17; Head of the Home Civil Service, 2012-14; 66; Sir Terry Leahy, Chief Executive, Tesco plc, 1997-2011, 65; Lord Burnett of Maldon, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, 63; Mr Barry Mcguigan, former WBC featherweight champion, now boxing promoter and commentator, 60; and Mr Tim Bresnan, former England cricketer, 36.

Leap Year anniversaries: Mr Joss Ackland, actor, 93; Baroness Dunn, Chairman, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, 1983-91, 81; Lt Gen Sir Roderick Cordy-simpson, President, Royal British Legion, 200004, 77; Sir Callum Mccarthy, Chairman, Financial Services Authority, 2003-08, 77; Prof Dame Hermione Lee, President, Wolfson College, Oxford, 2008-17, 73; Sir David Brailsford, cycling coach; Team Principal, Team Ineos; National Performance Director, British Cycling, 200314, 57; Mr James Ogilvy, son of Princess Alexandra and the late Hon Sir Angus Ogilvy, 57; and Ms Hannah Mills, sailor; Olympic gold medallist, women’s 470, Rio 2016 and silver medallist, women’s 470, London 2012, 33.

Today is the anniversary of the death of John Evelyn, diarist, in 1706.

Tomorrow will be the anniversary of the death of Henry James, novelist, in 1916.

Feb 29 is the anniversary of the death of E.F. Benson, novelist, in 1940.