The Chief Executive of St Christopher’s Hospice, London, since 2000, Barbara Monroe was made a Dame in last year’s birthday honours list. Her organisation cares for 900 dying people every day, 48 as in-patients. She is resolutely optimistic, saying she always maintains a half- full glass and has no worries about getting older. She will celebrate today with her family, and says: “No presents. Just donations. We need to raise £9 million every year.” RGT
Birthdays today
Christopher Allsopp, economist, 70; Julian Anderson, composer, 44; Zach Braff, actor and director, 36; Rory Bremner, impressionist, 50; Anthony Butcher, treasurer of Gray’s Inn, 2003-04, 77; Joan Carlyle, soprano, 80; Bernard Carter, painter and etcher, 91; Max Clifford, public relations expert, 68; Roger Cook, journalist and broadcaster, 68; Paul Daniels, magician, 73; the Rev Canon Jane Hedges, canon steward, Westminster Abbey, 56; Myleene Klass, pianist, singer and TV presenter, 33; the Rev Ian Paisley, politician, 85; Felicity Palmer, mezzo-soprano, 67; André Previn, conductor, pianist and composer, 82; Pascal Rogé, concert pianist, 60; Professor James Watson, geneticist, biologist, joint discoverer of DNA, 83.