Birthdays

Mr Eric Ambler, novelist and screenwriter, 85; Mr Howard Barker, playwright and poet, 48; Mr Correlli Barnett, writer, 67; Mr Stan Barstow, writer, 66; Dr John Black, former director and secretary, Wolfson Foundation, 72; Mr Mel Brooks, author, actor and director, 68; Mr Jamie Cann MP, 48; Sir Robert Carswell, Northern Ireland High Court judge, 60; Mr Kenneth Cooper, former chief executive, British Library, 63; Mr David Duckham, rugby player, 48; Mr Harold Evans, editor, author and publisher, 66; Sir Thayne Forbes, High Court judge, 56; Sir Peter Gadsden, former Lord Mayor of London, 65; Mr Roger Godsiff MP, 48; Mr Jack Gold, film director, 64; Sir John Gorst MP, 66; Lord Gray of Contin, former government minister, 67; Sir Peter Gregson, Permanent Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry, 58; Professor Martin Harris, Vice-Chancellor, Manchester University, 50; Mr Malcolm Horsman, former chairman, Ralli International, 61; Mr John Inman, actor, 58; Mr George Lloyd, composer and conductor, 81; Sir John May, a former Lord Justice of Appeal, 71; Sir David Scholey, chairman, SG Warburg, 59; Sir Cyril Smith, former MP, 66; Sir Garry Sobers, cricketer, 58; Viscount Whitelaw, former government minister, 76; Sir Patrick Wright, former Head of the Diplomatic Service, 63.