2015 Event Queen Elizabeth II officially celebrates her 89th birthday with a Trooping the Color ceremony; as part of the celebration, the Queen also knighted figures including actor Kevin Spacey and singer Van Morrison 1998 Event Elton John knighted 1997 Event Beatle Paul McCartney knighted Sir Paul by the Queen 1953 Event Winston Churchill knighted by Queen Elizabeth II 1946 Birthday Annette Penhaligon, born in England, politician, secretary for Member of Parliament for Truro, in Cornwall, England, knighted for services to politics and public service 1918 Birthday Mervyn Pike, born in England, Irene Mervyn Parnicott Pike, Baroness Pike, Conservative, Life Peerk, knighted, Member of Parliament for Melton, in the county of Leicestershire 1915 Birthday Stanley Matthews, 1st British soccer player to be knighted 1902 Birthday Jack Newman, New Zealand cricket lefty pace bowler, 1932-33, later knighted 1887 Event Sir John Layton Jarvis, 1st British race horse trainer knighted 1882 Birthday John Berry Hobbs, England, 1st cricket played knighted, 1953 1838 Birthday Henry Irving, John H Brodribb, England, knighted 1895/actor, Hamlet
