Birthdays

TODAY: Mr Geoff Arnold, cricketer, 50; Air Marshal Sir Erik Bennett, former commander, Sultan of Oman's Air Force, 66; Dr Clare Burstall, psychologist and educationist, 63; Miss Pauline Collins, actress, 54; Mr Michael Connarty MP, 47; Professor Raymond Cowell, Vice-Chancellor, Nottingham Trent University, 57; Dr Francis Duffy, president, Royal Institute of British Architects, 54; The Rev Anthony Harbottle, chaplain to the Queen, 69; Mr Nicky Horne, disc jockey, 44; Mr Graham Kentfield, chief cashier, Bank of England, 54; Mr Brian Lochore, rugby player, 54; Professor Alison Lurie, writer and Professor of English at Cornell University, 68; Mr Richard McCormac, architect and former president, Royal Institute of British Architects, 56; Sir Michael Neubert MP, 61; The Right Rev Vernon Nicholls, Honorary Assistant Bishop of Coventry, 77; Sir Mark Russell, chairman, Commonwealth Institute, Scotland, and former diplomat, 65; Mr Gaston Thorn, former prime minister of Luxembourg, 66.

TOMORROW: Miss Joan Aiken, author of novels, plays and poetry for children, 70; Sir Hubert Bennett, architect, 85; Mrs Ann Burdus, director, Dawson International, 61; Sir John Charnley, technological consultant, 72; Sir Michael Day, former chairman, Commission for Racial Equality, 61; Mr Peter Drew, former chairman, Taylor Woodrow, 67; Mrs Ann Dummett, former Director, Runnymede Trust, 64; Mr Mike Gapes MP, 42; Miss Mitzi Gaynor, actress and dancer, 64; Lord Howell, former government minister, 71; Sir Nicholas Jackson, organist, harpsichordist and composer, 60; Mr Bill Kenwright, theatrical impresario, 49; Mr Dinsdale Landen, actor, 62; Air Chief Marshal Sir David Lee, 82; Sir William Mars-Jones, former High Court judge, 79; Mrs Elizabeth Peacock MP, 57; Lord Sandhurst, wartime RAF bomber commander, 74; Mr Michael Stean, chess player, 41; Mr Tom Watson, golfer, 45.