BIRTHDAYS
Jay Aston, singer (Bucks Fizz), 58; John Barnard, race car designer, 73; Julian Barratt, comedian and actor, 51; Michael Barrymore, entertainer and broadcaster, 67; Colin Bass, songwriter and multiinstrumentalist (Camel), 68; Ravi Bopara, cricketer, 34; Alison Britton, ceramicist, 71; Robin Cook, novelist, 79; Mike Dirnt (Michael Pritchard), bassist and singer (Green Day), 47; Cesc Fabregas, footballer, 32; Neil Fox, former rugby league player and coach, 80; Kate Garraway, radio and television broadcaster, 52; Charlotte Green, radio broadcaster, 63; David Guterson, novelist, 63;
Dr Caroline Harper, chief executive, Sightsavers International, 59; Darryl Hunt, bass guitarist (The Pogues), 69; Jane Kennedy, Merseyside police and crime commissioner, 61; Thomas Kinsella, poet and translator, 91; Sir Tony McCoy, former jockey, 45; Rory McIlroy, golfer, 30; Stanley ‘Mac’ McMurtry, cartoonist, 83; Christine Morgan, head of radio, BBC religion and ethics, 61; Manuel Benítez Perez (El Cordobes), matador, 83; Chris Packham, naturalist, writer and broadcaster, 58; Liz Robertson, actor and
singer, 65;
Professor Marisa Robles, harpist and visiting professor of harp, Royal College of Music, 82; Fernando Roza, footballer, 34; Dame Caroline Spelman MP and second church estates commissioner, 61; Graham Swift, novelist, 70; Gillian Tindall, biographer, novelist and historian, 81; Lesley Vainikolo, rugby union and former rugby league player, 40; John Watson, former racing driver, 73; Professor Basil Yamey, professor emeritus of economics, University of London, 100; Pia Zadora, actor and singer, 66.