David Rayvern Allen a former BBC radio producer has pursued wide interests since he retired. During his BBC career he produced programmes featuring many top names from Stephen Sondheim, Orson Welles and Yehudi Menuhin, as well as opera and festivals. But his passion is cricket. He has written biographies of his friend John Arlott and E.W. Swanton and his lengthy commentary on the rare ‘Britcher’s Scores’ was awarded the Cricket Memorabilia’s prize for excellence in 2003. He produces a stage entertainment featuring cricketing memoirs which has featured in many fund raising events. He is currently engaged, with others, in compiling an international cricketing archive for the MCC and he has gathered many interviews with eminent players past and present. Last year he had an hour-long discussion with Sir John Major on cricket which has been released as a CD. He is celebrating his birthday with his two daughters who are both in the theatre and taking his wife of 41 years on holiday to Cuba. “I expect I’ll pick up a few more interviews while I am away” he says. David Rayvern Allen is 70 today. RGT
Sir Robert Atkins, Conservative MEP for North West England, 62; John Bush, Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire, 71; Major-General Sir Simon Cooper, Master of HM’s Household, 1992-2000, 72; Sven-G?ran Eriksson, football manager of Manchester City, 60; Molly Hattersley (Lady Hattersley), educationist, 77; Susan Hill, novelist and playwright, 66; Douglas Hogg, Conservative MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham, 63; General Sir Geoffrey Howlett, chairman, Leonard Cheshire Foundation, 1990-95, 78; Mark Jones, director, Victoria & Albert Museum, 57; Sir Andrew Morritt, Chancellor of the High Court, 70; Professor Adam Neville, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Dundee University, 1978-87, 85; Charlotte Rampling, actress, 62; the Very Rev Colin Semper, Canon of Westminster, 1987-97, 70; Sir Rodney Sweetnam, Orthopaedic Surgeon to the Queen, 1982-92, 81; Sir Leslie Young, chairman, British Waterways Board, 1984-87, 83.