The actor Robert Hardy has recently been seen as the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, in the Harry Potter films. On television his portrayals of Winston Churchill earned him a Bafta. He has a long fascination with the history of the longbow, inspired by playing Henry V at Stratford, and has written two books on it. Older viewers will recall him in two long-running series The Troubleshooters (1966-70) and All Creatures Great and Small (1978-90). RGT
Birthdays today
Professor Sir Geoffrey Allen, chemical physicist, 82; Professor Sir Derek Bradbeer, president, Law Society, 1987-88, 79; George Davies, chief executive, Next, 1985-88, 69; Richard Dreyfuss, actor, 63; Lady France, headmistress, City of London School for Girls, 1986-95, 75; Baroness Gould of Potternewton