The author of Love Story, Erich Segal has just finished writing his autobiography and says: “I am growing a little sick of the protagonist.” His bestselling book from 1970 kept generations in tears, from the opening line “What can you say about a 25-year-old girl who died?” to the enduring “Love means never having to say you’re sorry”. Professor Segal, who lives in London, is still smarting at England’s football defeat by France in the last 90 seconds on Sunday but says: “Nevertheless I intend to spend my birthday wearing my younger daughter’s gift: a brand-new England shirt.” His elder daughter received her BA at Oxford on Saturday, an event which brought him joy. He says his most satisfying achievement recently was finishing a history of comedy from Aristophanes to Beckett. Erich Segal is 67 today.
RGT
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Lord Aberdare, a deputy speaker in the House of Lords, 1976-2001, 85; Anthony Abrahams, chairman of the Harpur Trust, 1978-88, 81; Lord Astor of Hever, 58; Dame Eileen Atkins, actress and writer, 70; Lord Patrick Beresford, bloodstock agent, 70; James Bolam, actor, 66; Lieutenant-General the Hon Sir Thomas Boyd-Carpenter, chairman of the social security advisory committee, 66; John Entwistle, President of the British Chambers of Commerce, 1998-2000, 63; Tom Graveney, cricketer, 77; Professor H. J. Hanham, Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University, 1985-95, 76; the Right Rev David Konstant, Bishop Emeritus of Leeds, 74; Rodney Lund, chairman of Short Brothers, 1988-90, 68; Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum, 58; Professor Robert Matthews, Master of Clare College, Cambridge, 1975-93, 77; Lord Richardson, President of the General Medical Council, 1973-80, 94; Sir Ralph Robins, chairman of Rolls-Royce, 1992-2003, 72; Sir Nigel Wicks, Second Permanent Secretary (Finance) at the Treasury, 1989-2000, 64; Simon Williams, actor, 58.