Today’s birthdays

Sir Anthony Epstein, pathologist, is 102; Prof Michael Sandle, sculptor, 87; M Jacques Santer, President, European Commission, 1995-99, 86; Lord Cormack, former Conservative MP, 84; Prof M.S. Longair, astronomer, 82; Miss Miriam Margolyes, actress, 82; Mr Nicholas Wills, former company chairman, 82; the Marquess of Reading 81; Mr Keith Hellawell, writer and broadcaster; Expert Adviser to the Home Secretary on International Drugs Issues, 2001-02, 81; Miss Caroline Charles, fashion designer, 81; Sir Anthony Redmond, Chairman and Chief Executive, Commission for Local Administration and Local Government, 2001-10, 78; Prof Dame Celia Hoyles, mathematician, 77; Mr John Bruton, Prime Minister of Ireland, 1994-97, 76; Ms Susan Winfield, Lord-lieutenant for Tyne and Wear, 2015-22, 76; Mr Rick Wakeman, keyboardist, songwriter, broadcaster and author, 74; Lt Gen David Leakey, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, 2011-17, 71; Prof Don Nutbeam, Vice-chancellor of the University of Southampton, 2009-15, 68; Mr Justice Morris 66; Miss Jane Root, broadcasting executive, 66; Miss Toyah Willcox, singer and actress, 65; Mrs Veronica Ferguson, Surgeon-oculist to Queen Elizabeth II, 2018-22, 63; Mr Paul Nowak, General Secretary, TUC, 51; the Earl of Scarbrough 50; Mr John Higgins, snooker player; World Champion 1998, 2007, 2009 and 2011, 48; the Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery 45; and Ms Shona Mccallin, GB field hockey player; Olympic gold medallist, women’s tournament, Rio 2016, 31. Today is the anniversary of the birth of Bertrand Russell in 1872. It is also the anniversary of the birth of Fred Perry in 1909 and of the death of Gustav Mahler in 1911.