Today’s birthdays

Air Chief Marshal Sir Joseph Gilbert, Deputy C-in-c, Allied Forces Central Europe, 1986-89, is 90; Lord Alliance, former company chairman, 89; the Rt Rev John Perry, Bishop of Chelmsford, 1996-2003, 86; Lord Whitty, former Labour Government Minister, 78; the Earl of Lisburne 76; Mr Henry Mcleish, former MP and MSP, 73; Mr Simon Callow, actor, director and writer, 72; Sir John Redwood, MP, 70; Miss Helen Hunt, actress, 58; Mr Justin Leonard, golfer; Open Champion 1997, 49; Ms Naomi Riches, adaptive rower; Paralympic gold medallist, London 2012 and six-times World Champion, 38; and Mr Peter Kennaugh, former professional racing cyclist, Olympic gold medallist, men’s cycling team pursuit, London 2012, 32.

Today is the anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta in 1215. It is also the anniversary of the first transatlantic non-stop flight by Alcock and Brown in 1919.