The industrialist Swraj Paul has been a Labour peer since 1996. He will spend his birthday in India visiting Calcutta to see if he can build a cultural centre as “a gift to the city where I spent my early commercial life”. He is encouraging his three sons to expand Caparo, the company of which he is chairman, and is endeavouring to establish a school of manufacturing and material technology in Jalandhar, Punjab, his birthplace. He is an energetic member of the House of Lords, and is on the Select Committee for Science and Technology, where he is investigating energy efficiency. He is Chancellor of Wolverhampton University, holds 12 doctorates from universities in England, India, Switzerland, Russia and the US and is a freeman of the City of London. He says: “I enjoy my work in the Lords; however my main interest is in manufacturing industry which I feel receives less importance than it should. I will continue to do what I can to ensure it attracts the attention it deserves.” Lord Paul is 74 today.
RGT
Rob Andrew, rugby player, 42; Ben Brocklehurst, former proprietor of The Cricketer, 83; Michael Buerk, broadcaster, 59; José-Maria Canizares, golfer, 58; Jean E. Cooke, painter, 78; Sinead Cusack, actress, 57; Roy Dean, former diplomat, writer and broadcaster, 78; Len Deighton, author, 76; Milos Forman, film director, 73; Sir Charles Frossard, Bailiff of Guernsey, 1982-92, 83; Graeme Garden, actor and comedian, 62; J.C. Houston, Dean of United Medical and Dental Schools, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, 1982-84, 88; Colin Jackson, athlete, 38; Sir Peter Laurence, Ambassador to Ankara, 1980-83, 82; Prue Leith, cookery writer and caterer, 65; Sir Michael Lickiss, accountant, 71; Sir Arthur Norman, chairman of World Wide Fund for Nature, UK, 1977-84, 88; Sir Bobby Robson, manager of Newcastle United Football Club, 1999-2004, 72; Cybill Shepherd, actress, 55; Ned Sherrin, producer, director and writer, 74; John Travolta, actor, 51; Sir Max Williams, senior partner of Clifford Chance, 1989-91, 79; General Sir John Wilsey, Commander-in-Chief of UK Land Forces then Land Command, 1993-96, 66.