Birthdays: Boxing Day

Birthdays: Mr Earle Brown, composer, 67; Capt George Burnet, Lord-Lieutenant of Midlothian, 66; Professor Colin Campbell, Vice-Chancellor, Nottingham University, 49; Mr Patric Dickinson, poet and playwright, 79; Mr Alastair Dunnett, former Editor of the Scotsman, 85; Baroness Faithfull, former Director of Social Services, 83; Sir Christopher Hewetson, former President of the Law Society, 64; Mr Rohan Kanhai, former cricketer, 58; Mr Eric Kinder, chairman, Smith and Nephew, 66; Professor Thea King, Professor of the Clarinet, Guildhall School of Music, 68; Miss Jane Lapotaire, actress, 49; Mr Denis Quilley, actor, 66; Mr Mark Robinson MP, 47; Mr Richard Skinner, disc jockey, 42.