Birthdays

TODAY: Dr Barbara Ansell, rheumatologist, 74; Miss Elizabeth Ashley, actress, 58; Sir Harold Atcherley, former chairman, Aldeburgh Foundation, 79; Mr Ben Bradshaw MP, 37; Sir Patrick Branigan QC, former Attorney-General, Gold Coast, 91; Ms Karen Buck MP, 39; Sir Charles Burman, former chairman, Tarmac, 89; Mr Allan Davis, actor, director and producer, 84; Mr Pat Dyer, chairman, Bunzl, 65; Mr Kenneth Gill, former trade union leader, 70; Dr Alan Gilmour, former director, NSPCC, 69; Mr Martin Harris, chartered accountant and company director, 75; Lord Healey, former government minister, 80; Air Marshal Sir Frank Holroyd, former Chief Engineer, RAF, 62; Miss Jayne Irving, television presenter, 41; Lord Keith of Castleacre, merchant banker, 81; Dr Jeremy Lee-Potter, haematologist and former chairman, British Medical Association, 63; The Countess of Longford, writer, 91; Mr William McAlister, cultural programme co-ordinator, Soros Foundations, 57; Miss Sue MacGregor, BBC radio presenter, 56; Dr Peter North, Vice-Chancellor, Oxford University, 61; Sir Peter Parker, chairman, Mitsubishi Electric UK, 73; Mr John Peel, broadcaster, 58; Sir Henry Phillips, former colonial administrator, 83; Miss Audrey Scott, former headmistress, Queen Anne's School, Caversham, 63; Mr George Stevenson MP, 59; Professor John Thoday, geneticist, 81; The Very Rev Professor Thomas Torrance, theologian, 84; Sir Philip Woodfield, former senior civil servant, 74.

TOMORROW: Mr Eugene Anderson, former chairman and chief executive, Ferranti International, 59; Major Michael Argyle QC, former circuit judge, 82; Mr Martin Bell MP, 59; Admiral Sir Brian Brown, chairman, King George's Fund for Sailors, 63; Professor Robert Hanbury Brown, astronomer, 81; Sir James Cleminson, former chairman, British Overseas Trade Board, 76; Mr James Coburn, actor, 69; Miss Anne Coffey MP, 51; Lt-Gen Sir Napier Crookenden, 82; Mr Alan de Piro QC, former circuit judge, 78; Miss Liz Forgan, former managing director, Network Radio BBC, 53; Sir William Francis, former Vice-Chairman, Tarmac, 71; Mr Richard Gere, actor, 48; Air Marshal Sir Edward Gordon Jones, 83; Mr Buddy Hackett, actor and comedian, 73; Mr Charles Kay, actor, 67; Professor Christine King, Vice-Chancellor, Staffordshire University, 53; Mr Clive Lloyd, cricketer, 53; Professor Sir Bernard Lovell, former director, Jodrell Bank Station, 84; Mr Van Morrison, rock vocalist, 52; Mr Edwin Moses, athlete, 42; Mr Bryan Organ, painter, 62; Mr Itzhak Perlman, violinist, 52; Sir Barry Sheen, former High Court judge, 79.