Anne Owers has for four years been HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales, which even a Home Office spokesman described as “a most difficult job.” Her predecessors in the post, Judge Stephen Tumim and General Sir David Ramsbotham, had at the time of their appointment seemed steeped in the Establishment, yet both went on to turn in numerous stinging reports. The choice of Ms Owers, with a background in human rights campaigning and the all-party body Justice, known as the “conscience” of the legal profession, looked brave. She is often to be heard on the early slot of the Today programme blasting away at stretched resources and the 180 per cent overcapacity of our prisons which sees inmates locked up for 23 hours a day. As with her predecessors, it does not appear that many of her criticisms are acted upon. Meanwhile, she can consider which of her interests to pursue on her birthday: “playing bridge” or “thinking about playing golf”. Anne Owers is 58 today. RGT
S. M. Andrews, Head Master of Clifton College, 1975-90, 73; Kim Begley, tenor, 53; Professor Norman Bowery, pharmacologist, 61; the Very Rev Professor Henry Chadwick, Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge, 1987-93, 85; Nicholas Cleobury, conductor, 55; A. M. Davies, chairman of National Express Group 1992-2004, 71; Professor Sir John Elliott, historian, 75; Carolyn Ellis, explorer, 43; the Right Rev Lord Habgood, Archbishop of York, 1983-95, 78; Sir Alan Haselhurst, Conservative MP for Saffron Walden, 68; Julian Hipwood, polo player, 59; Lord Irvine of Lairg, Lord Chancellor, 1997-2003, 65; Miriam Karlin, actress, 80; Sir Jeremy Lever, competition law expert, 72; Lord Millett, a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, 73; Lord Newall, chairman of the British Greyhound Racing Board, 1985-97, 75; Professor Sir Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal, 63; Professor Sir Nicholas Shackleton, geologist, 68; Professor Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior, Professor of Animal Pathology, Cambridge University, 1978-93, 79; the Right Rev K. N. Sutton, Bishop of Lichfield, 1984-03, 71; Anthony Thwaite, poet, 75; Sir John Timmins, Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, 73.