Today’s birthdays

Sir Simon Bowes Lyon, Lordlieutenant for Hertfordshire, 1986-2007, is 90; Sir Patrick Fairweather, former diplomat, 86; Mr Ken Loach, television and film director, 86; Lord Anderson of Swansea, former Labour MP, 83; Miss Jennifer Durrant, painter, 80; Mr Barry Manilow, musician, singer and songwriter, 79; Mr Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, 2000-08, 77; Mr Eddy Merckx, former road cyclist; five-times winner of the Tour de France, 77; Prof John Craven, Vicechancellor of the University of Portsmouth, 1997-2013, 73; Mr Robert Scott, Lord-lieutenant for Co Tyrone, 71; Baroness Morris of Yardley, former Labour Government Minister, 70; Dame Judith Macgregor, former diplomat, 70; Ms Justice Russell 64; Mr Justice Cavanagh 62; Miss Venus Williams, tennis player; Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles Champion, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2008; 42; Ms Helen Glover, rower; Olympic gold medallist, women’s pair, Rio 2016 and London 2012, 36; Mr Guilhem Guirado, Captain, France Rugby Union team, 2016-19, 36; Miss Jodie Whittaker, actress, 40; and Miss Laura Wright, soprano, 32. Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775.