Birthdays

Mr Roger Abel, chairman Conoco UK, 56; Miss Elizabeth Appleby QC, 57; Mr Michael Brunson, television reporter and newscaster, 59; Admiral Sir Kenneth Eaton, former Controller of the Navy, 65; Mr George Hamilton, actor, 60; General Sir Patrick Howard-Dobson, former President, Royal British Legion, 78; Sir Anthony Jolliffe, former Lord Mayor of London, 61; Professor David King, Master of Downing College, Cambridge, 60; Mr Mark Knopfler, singer and rock guitarist, 50; Mr Norris McWhirter, a founder of the Guinness Book of Records, 74; Sir Robin Nicholson, metallurgist, 65; Lord Renton of Mount Harry QC, former government minister, 91; Mr Pete Sampras, tennis player, 28; Mr Peter West, sports commentator, 79; Mr Tony Wright MP, 45; Professor Graham Zellick, Vice-Chancellor, London University, 51.