Birthdays

Mr John Allen, former professor of drama, 81; Lord Armstrong of Ilminster, former Secretary to the Cabinet, 66; Mr John Astin, actor, 63; Miss Sarah Badel, actress, 50; Mr Warren Beatty, actor, 56; Lord Browne-Wilkinson, a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, 63; Mr Eric Clapton, rock musican, 48; Mr John Coates, naval architect, 71; Miss Sue Cook, broadcaster, 44; Mr Alan Davidson, author, publisher and former diplomat, 69; Mr Graeme Edge, rock musician, 50; Mr George Esson, chief constable, Dumfries and Galloway, 51; Professor Leonard Forster, former Professor of German, Cambridge University, 80; Professor Sir Ernst Gombrich, art historian, 84; Sir John Gray, marine biologist, 75; Mr Rolf Harris, entertainer, 63; Professor Tony Honore, former Regius Professor of Civil Law, Oxford University, 72; Mr Nigel Jones, MP, 45; Mr Frankie Laine, singer, 80; Mr Bernard Lyons, former chairman, UDS Group, 80; Sir Ian MacLaurin, chairman, Tesco, 56; Lord Rayner, former chairman, Marks and Spencer, 67; Mr Tom Sharpe, novelist and historian, 65; The Countess of Sutherland, Chief of the Clan Sutherland, 72; Lord Tanlaw, chairman and managing director, Fandstan Ltd, 59; General Sir Richard Trant, former Quarter Master General, 65; Sir John Wells, former MP, 68; Professor Arie Zuckerman, Dean, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, 61.