Today’s birthdays

The King of Thailand is 70.

Prof B.L. Clarkson, Principal, University College of Swansea, 1982-94, 92; Prof Sir Frederick Crawford, Vice-chancellor, Aston University, 1980-96, 91; Mr D.C.F. Pearson, Deputy Chairman, Robert Fleming Holdings, 1986-90, 91; Mr Murray Stuart, Chairman, Scottish Power, 1992-2000, 89; Mr Neil Mckendrick, historian; Master of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, 1996-2005, 87; Sir Garfield Sobers, former cricketer; Captain, West Indies cricket team, 1965-74, 86; Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Johns, Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle, 2000-08, 83; Ms Anne Chisholm, Chairman, Royal Society of Literature, 2008-15, 82;

Mr Riccardo Muti, conductor, 81;

Sir Ian Grant, Chairman, The Crown Estate, 2002-09, 79; Mr Keith Hill, former Labour Government Minister, 79; Gen Sir Peter Cosgrove, Governorgeneral of Australia, 2014-19, 75;

Sir Colman Treacy, a former Lord Justice of Appeal, 73; Dame Barbara Stocking, President, Murray Edwards College, Cambridge, 2013-21; Chief Executive, Oxfam, 2001-13, 71;

Prof Sir Anthony Finkelstein, President, City, University of London, 63; and Ms Susannah Townsend, field hockey player; Olympic gold medallist, women’s tournament, Rio 2016, 33.

Today is the anniversary of the birth of Beatrix Potter in 1866.