The writer and broadcaster Sir John Maddox, who edited the leading science magazine Nature for 23 years until 1995, says he likes to keep his head down on his birthdays. “Monday is just another working day for me.”
He is working on a fascinating project for the Chinese to be published next November by Macmillan compiling the best of Nature over 140 years in ten volumes with text in Chinese and English. A Living Record of Science will cover key scientists such as Darwin, Watson and Crick. He says the project allows him very little time for anything else, though he will stop work for a small family gathering in the evening. Sir John Maddox is 81 today.
RGT
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John Alderton, actor, 66; Dr John Ashworth, chairman of the British Library Board, 1996-2001, 68; Rodney Bewes, actor, 68; Lord Bridges, Ambassador to Italy, 1983-87, 79; Gavyn Davies, chairman of the Board of Governors, BBC, 2001-2004, 56; Air Marshal Sir Eric Dunn, chief engineer of the RAF, 1983-86, 79; James Evans, chairman of the Press Association, 1987-89, 74; Verity Lambert, film and television producer, 71; Sir Stephen Lamport, Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales, 1996-2002, 55; Baroness Mallalieu, Opposition spokesman on home and legal affairs, House of Lords, 1992-97, 61; Lord Nickson, president of the CBI, 1986-88, 77; Margaret Parry, headmistress of Heathfield School, Ascot, 1973-82, 8 7; Ian Ritchie, chief executive, All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, 53; Alan Simpson, author and scriptwriter, 77.