Prof Laurie Taylor is ,91, at least according to The Times & forever young. A brief memoir
Prof Laurie Taylor who a long time ago taught at York (1974-93) and wrote some important sociological works, for example Escape Attempts (with Stanley Cohen) and more recently presented the Radio 4 programme on new sociological research, Thinking Allowed.
Laurie Taylor (sociologist) – Wikipedia
I occasionally filled in for Taylor’s Times Higher Column (a satirical take on higher education) when he was on holiday and even more occasionally encountered him at social occasions. I recall him asking with some degree of surprise that I was still employed by anyone..
In the 1970s the Professor was a Trotskyist, a member of the International Socialists (now SWP) but arguably became an example of Lenin’s view that if socialism was left to Professors it would not go well.
His Wiki entry also suggests that he was the model for Howard Kirk in Bradbury’s The History Man. As played by Antony Sher in the TV adaptation a Zapata moustache was a key defining feature. I’m sure if Laurie Taylor by contrast has ever sported facial hair.
Anyway, happy birthday Comrade Taylor, forever young at 91 clearly
Kmflett's Blog 
still with a mind as sharp as a tack and working on the radio.