BIRTHDAY 2003: JG Ballard, novelist and short story writer, CBE for services to literature; David Heckels, MBE, for charitable services to the arts.

NEW YEAR 2003: Michael Frayn, author and playwright, Kt, for services to literature; Ian Albery, former chief executive Sadler’s Wells, CBE, for services to drama; Cedric Price, architect, CBE, for services to architecture

BIRTHDAY 2002: Jim Broadbent, actor, OBE; John Pandit, musician, MBE for services to the music industry; Geraldine McEwan, actress, CBE for services to drama.

NEW YEAR 2002: Richard Lambert, former editor, Kt for services to journalism; Honor Blackman, actress, CBE for services to drama.

BIRTHDAY 2001: George Melly, jazz singer, CBE for services to music; Claire Tomalin, writer, CBE for services to literature; Nigella Lawson, chef and broadcaster, OBE for services to journalism and to cookery; Patrick Collins, sports writer, MBE, for services to journalism; Susan Loppert, art historian, MBE for services to and research into arts in healthcare; Doris Purnell, MBE for services to drama.

NEW YEAR 2001: Elgar Howarth, musician and conductor, CBE for services to music; Dawn French, comedienne, OBE for services to comedy drama; Jennifer Saunders, comedienne, OBE for services to comedy drama.

BIRTHDAY 2000: Albert Finney, actor and director, Kt for services to drama; David Bowie, singer, CBE; Jonathan Kent, theatre director, OBE for services to drama; Ian McDiarmid, theatre director, OBE for services to drama; John Dunn, broadcaster, MBE for services to radio.

NEW YEAR 2000: Polly Toynbee, journalist, CBE.

NEW YEAR 1999: Vanessa Redgrave, actress, DBE for services to drama (rec: CBE 1967); Jocelyn Herbert, theatre designer, CBE for services to the theatre; Leon Kossoff, painter, CBE for services to art; Leslie Waddington, gallery chairman, CBE for services to the development of modern art; Alan Mattingly, Ramblers’ Association, OBE for services to the Ramblers’ Association.

BIRTHDAY 1998: Frank Auerbach, painter, Kt for services to art; Garfield Weston, businessman and philanthropist, CBE for charitable services; Anish Kapoor, sculptor, MBE for services to sculpture. (rec: CBE 2003); John Sales, former head gardener National Trust, MBE for services to horticulture.

NEW YEAR 1998: Laurence Harbottle, former chairman of the Theatres Trust, OBE for services to the theatre; John McCormick, controller, BBC Scotland, OBE for services to broadcasting; Marjorie Hebden, MBE for services to the Malvern Museum.

BIRTHDAY 1997: Gwendoline Laxon, MBE for services to charity; Rachel Whiteread, sculptor, MBE for services to Art.

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