Birthdays

Dr Dannie Abse, physician, surgeon and poet, 71; Mr John Caird, theatre director, 46; Sir George Cartland, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Tasmania, 82; Miss Maria Charles, actress, 65; Dr David Drewry, director, British Antarctic Survey, 47; Dr Liam Fox MP, 33; Mr William Franklyn, actor, 68; Miss Gina Fratini, fashion designer, 63; Mr Colin Graham, opera producer, 63; Sir James Henry, former chairman, Foreign Compensation Commission, 83; Professor Sir Frederick Holliday, chairman, Northumbrian Water plc, 59; Miss Joan Jett, rock singer, 36; Mr Graham Jones, headmaster of Repton, 50; Miss Deborah Lavin, principal, Trevelyan College, Durham University, 55; Professor Norbert Lynton, art historian, 67; Sir Charles Mander, company director and Lloyd's underwriter, 73; Sir Nigel Mobbs, chairman and chief executive, Slough Estates, 57; Lord Moran, former High Commissioner in Canada, 70; Miss Catherine Oxenberg, actress, 33; Capt Mark Phillips, equestrian, 46; Mr George Richardson, honorary chairman, Richardson Greenshields of Canada, 70; Lord Saye and Sele, banker, 74; Mrs Fay Weldon, author, 63; Sir John Wickerson, former president, the Law Society, 57; Lord Younger of Prestwick, former government minister, 63.