In the year that the Labour Party was formed and managed to win 2 seats in the House of Commons at the September General Election, King Umberto 1st of Italy was assassinated and the writer Oscar Wilde died.

In the year that Queen Victoria died after reigning for nearly 64 years, the first ever Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Swiss businessman Henri Dunant, and the 25th American President, William McKinley, was assassinated.

In the year that over 30,000 people died when Mount Pelee (Martinique) erupted; Cuba gained independence from the United States, although Guantanamo Bay Naval Base continued to be leased to the US, and Edward the Seventh was crowned king in the UK.

In the year that Cuba leased Guantanamo Bay to the United States for an unlimited period, the first Tour de France cycle race took place, and the Wright brothers made their first flight in a petrol-driven aircraft.

In the year that the Japanese attacked Lushun (China) leading to war between Russia and Japan, the Trans-Siberian Railway was completed and the first line on the New York Subway opened.

In the year that Prince Carl of Denmark was elected King of Norway, the Treaty of Portsmouth was signed, thus ending the war between Russia and Japan, and in Dublin, Republican Arthur Griffith founded Sinn Fein whose aim was to attain a united Ireland.

In the year that the Rolls Royce car company was founded, Finland became the first country to allow women to vote; and an earthquake in San Francisco (California), and the subsequent fire, was responsible for the deaths of around 3,000 persons.

In the year that meters were installed in London taxis for the first time, government elections in Finland allowed women to vote, and stand as candidates for Office, a new world first; and Oklahoma became the 46th State of the USA.

In the year that Baden Powell began the Boy Scout movement, Inter Milan Football Club was founded, and the somewhat mysterious Tunguska event occurred in which 80 million Siberian trees were felled as a result of an explosion above the earh's surface thought to have been caused by an asteroid. It was the year that women were first allowed to compete in the Olympic Games and the first Model T Ford rolled off the production line.

In the year that the first Government pension scheme was introduced in Britain aimed at good, honest citizens over 70, the true locations of the magnetic North and South Poles were claimed to have been discovered, and the first conference to regulate the game of Cricket was held at Lord's Cricket Ground in London.

In the year that George the Fifth became King in the UK after the death of his father, Edward the Seventh, Portugal became a Republic with King Manuel the Second fleeing to Britain, and the final act of Capital Punishment was carried out in Sweden when a murderer was executed using a guilotine for the one and only time.

In the year that the Coronation of King George V took place, the first diesel-powered ship, 'Selandia' was launched in Copenhagen, and the Capital of India was moved from Calcutta to New Delhi.

In the year that the passenger ship 'Titanic' struck an iceberg and foundered on her maiden voyage, Woodrow Wilson became the 28th United States President, and the first known bombing from an aircraft occurred during the first Balkan War when Bulgarian pilots bombed a railway station in eastern Turkey.

In the year that George the First of the Hellenes, the elected King of Greece, but once a Danish Prince, was assassinated, the Treaty of London was signed to end the First Balkan War, and English Suffragette Emily Davison died after being hit by the King's horse Anmer during the Epsom Derby.

In the year that the ship Empress of Ireland, en route from Quebec to Liverpool, sunk in the Gulf of St Lawrence with the loss of over 1000 lives, the Panama Canal was opened, and the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Duchess Sophie were assassinated in Sarajevo and precipitated the Great War.

In the year of the worst rail crash in British history, when over 200 people died in a multiple collision at Quintinshill (Scotland), more than 1,000 people died when the Luxury Liner Lusitania was torpedoed by German U-boats, and Australian and New Zealand troops landed on the Turkish coast at Gallipoli, eventually resulting in almost 500,000 casualties,

In the year that a clock change to British Summer Time was first introduced, the Battle of Jutland took place, the only major sea battle of the Great War, and the Russian mystic Grigori Rasputin was murdered.

In the year that the Danish West Indies was sold to the USA for 25 million dollars, Finland claimed independence from Russia, and King George V changed the family surname from Wettin to Windsor in response to anti-German feelings in the country.

In the year that an estimated 25 million people died in the 'Spanish Flu' pandemic, Russia switched from the Julian to the Gregorian Calendar and moved it's Capital from Petrograd to Moscow; and World War One ended with an agreement signed in a railway carriage near Compiegne (France).

In the year that Benito Mussolini founded the 'Italian Fighting League' , later to become the 'National Fascist Party' in Italy; the United Kingdom recognized Afghanistan as an independent Nation, and Lady Astor was elected as the first female Member of Parliament.

In the year that Poland defeated the Soviet Red Army in the Battle of Warsaw, QANTAS Airlines was founded in Brisbane, Australia, and British forces killed 14 Civilians at a Gaelic Football Match in Dublin during the Irish War of Independence. This day in November became known as 'Bloody Sunday'.

In the year that the Irish War of Independence ended paving the way for the creation of the Irish Free State, Adolf Hitler became head of the newly formed 'National Socialist German Workers Party', and Sweden abolished the Death Penalty.In the music world, the death was announced of Engelbert Humperdinck, the composer.

In the year that insulin was first used to successfully treat diabetes, Benito Mussolini became the youngest ever Prime Minister of Italy, and British archaelogist Howard Carter discovered the entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamun

In the year that the Irish Civil War ended, the 29th President of the United States, Warren Harding, died whilst in Office, and the Japanese cities of Tokyo and Yokahama were flattened by an eathquake that killed nearly 150,000 people. Wembley Stadium hosted it's first FA Cup Final . Bolton beat West Ham 2-0 in a match estimated to have been watched by more than 200,000 people.

In the year that Vladimir Lenin died and Petrograd was renamed Leningrad, Ramsay McDonald became the first Labour British Prime Minster. and the car company Mercedes-Benz car was born with the merger of 2 companies owned by Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz. In the music world, Paul Whiteman's Concert Band gave the first performance of George Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue'.

In the year that John Logie Baird made the first public television transmission, double-decker buses were introduced to the streets of London. Margaret Thatcher, former leader of the British Conservative Party was born, and Mein Kampf, by Adolf Hitler, was published.

In the year of the 10-day General Strike in Britain which resulted in Martial Law being imposed for 7 months, Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen Elizabeth the Second, was born, and Olympic 400m freestyle Bronze Medallist Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to swim the 34km channel between France and England.

In the year that the People's Liberation Army was formed in China during the Nanchang Uprising, the first television transmission was demonstrated in New York, and the first 'Talkie' film 'The Jazz Singer' made it's debut.

The year in which Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, Johnny Weissmuller won the last of his 100m freestyle gold medals at the Amsterdam Olympics before becoming famous worldwide as Tarzan, and the right to vote in Britain was extended to all women over 21. (previously only married women over 30 were allowed the vote).

In the year of the 'Wall Street Crash' in the New York Stock Exchange, the British General Election resulted in power being retained by a minority Labour Government led by Ramsay MacDonald, and 'Herge's Adventures of Tintin' commenced in the children's section of a Belgian newspaper.

In the year that the ex-planet Pluto was discovered, Amy Johnson became the first woman to fly solo from England to Australiia, and Uruguay defeated Argentina in the first ever football world cup.

In the year that an earthquake, measuring 7.9 on the Richter Scale devastated Napier (New Zealand), and an earthquake also flattened Managua (Nicaragua), killing 2,500 people. In Britain the strongest known earthquake, measuring 6.1 on the Richter Scale and centred under Dogger Bank in the North Sea, caused much structural damage. In America, the 'Star-Spangled Banner' was adopted as the National Anthem of the United States.

In the year that Aldous Huxley published Brave New World, the French President, Paul Doumer, was assassinated in Paris, and Siam (later Thailand) became a Constitutional Monarchy.

In the year that the 'Enabling Act' allowed Adolf Hitler to become Dictator of Germany, Japan left the League of Nations, construction work begins on the Golden Gate Bridge near San Franscisco, and football players in Britain wore numbered shirts for the very first time.

In the year that President von Hindenburg died and Adolf Hitler became Chancellor and Leader of Germany, the 'Long March' began as the Chinese Communist Army, led by Mao Tse-tung, escaped defeat by the Nationalist Army of Chiang Kai-shek; and the infamous American outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were killed by police near their refuge in Louisiana

In the year that Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo (Mississippi), Alcoholics Anonymous was founded; and the British electorate voted in the 2nd 'National' Government dominated by the Conservatives, but with a reduced majority, and led by Stanley Baldwin.

In the year that George the Fifth died and was briefly succeeded by Edward the Seventh before his abdication in favour of George the Sixth; the Berlin Olympics marked the first live television coverage of a sporting event, and the Tasmanian Tiger became extinct.

In the year that the German Luftwaffe destroyed Guernica (Northern Spain) during the Spanish Civil War, Neville Chamberlain became British Prime Minister, the Coronation of King George the Sixth took place in London, and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco opened.

In the year that Germany annexed Austria, oil was first discovered in Saudi Arabia and the world speed record for a steam locomotive was set by 'Mallard' on a track south of Grantham (Lincolnshire) with a speed of 126 mph (over 204 kph).

In the year that the Spanish Civil War ended, the film 'Gone with the Wind' starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh was premiered, and the Second World War commenced in Europe.

In the year that Neville Chamberlain resigned and Winston Churchill became UK Prime Minister, the Battle of Britain and the London Blitz occurred, Stone Age cave painting were discovered at Lascaux in France, and the Walt Disney film 'Fantasia' was released.

In the year that Plutonium was first produced, the sculptures of 4 American Presidents were completed on Mount Rushmore after 14 years work, and the United States entered the Second World War after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour.

In the year that Thailand declared war on both the UK and the USA, the Oxford Committee of Famine Relief (OXFAM) was founded, and the film Casablanca, starring Humphey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, was premiered in New York.

In the year that a volcano appeared on a farm in Mexico and eventually grew to 400 metres above the field in which it formed, over 170 people were crushed to death trying to enter a bomb shelter at Bethnal Green Tube Station in London, and the 'father of LSD' Dr Albert Hofmann wrote his paper on the hallucinogenic properties of the drug. In the music world, Oklahoma opened at St James's Theatre on Broadway.

In the year that the last eruption of Mount Vesuvius occurred, the D-Day landings of 150,000 allied troops took place in Normandy, and the first V2 rocket landed on London. In the world of music, Glenn Miller disappeared in an aircraft thought to have crashed in fog between southern England and France.

In the year that atomic bombs were first used as weapons of war, Animal Farm by George Orwell was first published, and the United Nations was founded. Les Brown and the Band of Renown were the most popular musical ensemble of the year.

In the year that Italy was declared a Republic and King Umberto the Second went into exile in Switzerland, the Greek people voted for the return of the monarchy and George the Second was enthroned in Greece. Meanwhile, King Simeon the Second headed into exile as Bulgaria was declared a Republic. The latest members of the United Nations were Iceland, Sweden and Afghanistan. In the music world, Edith Piaf wrote 'La Vie en Rose', a song that was to be her signature tune through the rest of her life.

In the year that the first Kashmir war was fought between the newly independent states of India and Pakistan, the first polaroid camera was manufactured, and the wedding took place at Westminster Abbey of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

In the year that railways in Britain were nationalised to form 'British Railways', Israel became an independent State, and the Summer Olympics were held in England.

In the year that clothes rationing ended in Britain, Siam was renamed Thailand, Eire became the Republic of Ireland, and George Orwell's book, '1984', was published.

In the year that the Korean War began, the first ever Formula One World Championship motor race was staged at Silverstone, and The Peak District became Britain's first National Park.

In the year that the United Nations headquarters in New York was officially opened, Greece and Turkey joined NATO and Libya gained independence from Italy. In the music world, one of the most popular records of the year in the UK was the Jimmy Young version of Nat King Cole's hit 'Too Young'.

In the year that Princess Elizabeth became Queen after the death of her father, King George VI, compulsory identity cards were scrapped by the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, and the Agatha Christie play 'The Mousetrap' opened in a West End of London theatre, the start of a very long run. In the music world, the 'Hit Parade' was intoduced in the UK. The first 'Number One' was Al Martino with 'Here in my Heart'.

In the year that Nikita Khruschev became leader of the Soviet Union following the death of Joseph Stalin, Edmund Hilary and Sherpa Tenzing made the first successful ascent of Mount Everest and the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place at Westminster Abbey. In the world of music, Frankie Laine dominated the British Charts with 3 Number Ones and a total of 28 weeks in the top spot. His hit 'I Believe' was a chart topper for 18 consecutive weeks.

In the year that Germany and Finland officially ended their state of war, rationing finally ended in Britain after 14 years. Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings' was first published and Roger Bannister became the first person to run a mile in under 4 minutes. In the music world, Bill Haley and his Comets recorded 'Rock Around the Clock.'

In the year that Anthony Eden became British Prime Minister after the resignation of Winston Churchill, Ruth Ellis became the last woman to be executed in Britain, and the first edition of the Guinness Book of Records was published. In the world of music, Slim Whitman with 'Rose Marie' spent 11 weeks at number one in the charts, and the top position was occupied for 5 weeks by Bill Haley and His Comets with 'Rock Around The Clock'.

In the year that both Morocco and Tunisia gained independence from France, President Nasser of Egypt nationalised the Suez Canal provoking a short war with France, Israel and Britain; and the Soviet Red Army brutally suppressed an uprising by the people of Hungary. In the world of music, the first Eurovision Song Contest was held in Switzerland and the UK charts were dominated by Ronnie Hilton with 'No Other Love', Doris Day with 'Whatever Will Be Will Be'; and at the end of the year Johnny Ray spent 7 weeks at the top of the UK charts with 'Just Walking In The Rain'.

In the year that the merged countries of British Togoland and The Gold Coast, became Ghana, and the first African Colony to gain independence, Harold Macmillan succeeded Anthony Eden as British Prime Minister, and Andrei Gromyko became Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union. In the world of music, Paul Anka singing 'Diana' topped the British charts for 9 weeks.

In the year that Nikita Khrushchev became leader of the Soviet Union, and parking meters first appeared in the streets of London, football fans everywhere were shocked and saddened by the Munich Air Disaster in which 23 people, including 8 Manchester United footballers, died. In the music world, the UK was absent from the Eurovision Song Contest in the Netherlands, which was won by France, The most popular song of the year was 'Magic Moments' by Perry Como which spent 8 weeks at the top of the UK charts.

In the year that the revolutionary leader Fidel Castro became President of Cuba, the Dalai Lama fled into exile from Tibet, Archbishop Makarios became President of a newly independent Cyprus, and the first stretch of the M1 motorway was opened in England. In the music world, an air crash claimed the life of Buddy Holly and the UK charts were dominated by Cliff Richard who spent a total of 11 weeks at Number One with 2 hits; 'Living Doll' and 'Travellin' Light'.

In the year that the first successful weather satellite was launched, a huge earthquake, measuring 9.5 on the Richter Scale, struck Chile, and 'Coronation Street' began broadcasting on Independent Televisiion. In the music world, the UK charts were dominated by the Everly Brothers 'Cathy's Clown' and Elvis Presley 'It's Now or Never' . Also, a pop group was re-named 'The Beatles' and began playing at a club in Hamburg.

In the year that the farthing ceased to be legal currency in Britain, JF Kennedy became President of the United States and the Soviet Cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, became the first man in Space. In the world of music, Elvis Presley spent 6 weeks at Number One in the UK charts with 'Wooden Heart' and the Christmas chart topper was 'Moon River' by Danny Williams.

In the year that Algeria became an independent country, the Cuban Missile Crisis occurred when the USA demanded the dismantling of Soviet missiles in Cuba, and British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan sacked 7 of his Cabinet in what was to become known as 'The Night of the Long Knives'. In the world of music, the British Charts were dominated by Elvis Presley who had a total of 15 weeks at number one with 4 hits, including the Christmas chart-topper 'Return to Sender.'

In the year that American President J.F. Kennedy was assassinated, Soviet Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space, and the island of Surtsey emerged from the sea after a volcanic eruption south of Iceland. In the world of music, the Beatles dominated the charts with 3 Number Ones, including 'From me to You' which topped the UK charts for 7 weeks. The Eurovision Song Contest was won by Denmark.

In the year that Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to become Tanzania, the first Habitat shop was opened in London, and after 13 years of Conservative rule, Harold Wilson led the Labour Party to victory in the UK General Election. In the world of music, Radio Caroline began illegally broadcasting music from a ship moored off the English Suffolk coast, and the UK charts were dominated by the Beatles and Rolling Stones, although the longest chart topper was by Cilla Black with 'You're My World' which spent 4 weeks at Number One.

In the year that Winston Churchill died, and Sir Stanley Matthews hung up his football boots at the age of 50, a speed limit of 70 mph was introduced on British roads. Edward Heath became leader of the Conservative opposition replacing Sir Alec Douglas-Home who resigned, and the Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, failed to prevent Ian Smith declaring unilateral independence in the white minority country Rhodesia (later Zimbabwe). President Lyndon Johnson sent 3,500 Marines to Vietnam in March, the first combat troops to arrive in the country. By the end of the year there 120,000 troops engaged in the Vietnamese War. In the music world, the charts were dominated by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, but the longest chart topper in 1965 was the 5 weeks at number one enjoyed by Ken Dodd with 'Tears'.

In the year that Indira Gandhi was elected Prime Minister of India, Malawi and Botswana became independent countries, Harold Wilson led the Labour Party to victory in the UK General Election, and England won the football World Cup. In the world of music, Jim Reeves wth 'Distant drums' spent 5 weeks at Number One in the UK charts, and the Christmas hit, 'The Green, Green, Grass of Home' by Tom Jones eventually spent 7 weeks in the top spot.

In the year that Guerilla leader Che Guevara was captured in Bolivia and executed, the first colour television broadcast in the UK began on BBC2 and traffic in Sweden switched from driving on the left to driving on the right. In the world of music, Englebert Humperdink with 'Release Me' and Procul Harum with 'Whiter Shade of Pale' each spent 6 weeks at Number One in the UK charts. The Christmas hit was 'Hello, Goodbye' by the Beatles; and Sandie Shaw won the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Puppet on a String'.

In the year that both Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy were assassinated, the Boeing 747 made it's inaugural flight, and the 'Prague Spring' was brought to an end when 200,000 Soviet Union-led troops invaded Czechoslovakia. In the world of music, Mary Hopkin topped the UK charts for 6 weeks with 'Those Were the Days'.

In the year that Charles de Gaulle stepped down as President of France to be replaced by Georges Pompidou, Willy Brandt became Chancellor of West Germany, and Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. In the world of music, the Woodstock Festival was held in New York State and the Archies topped the British charts for 8 weeks with 'Sugar, Sugar'.

In the year that the construction of the first bridge across the Bosphorus began, Salvador Allende became the democratically elected President of Chile, and the Conservative Party, under Edward Heath, won the UK General Election. In the world of music, The Isle of Wight Festival attracted over 500.000 spectators, The Beatles disbanded and Jimi Hendrix died, aged 28. The UK charts were dominated by Mungo Jerry and 'Summertime' which spent 7 weeks at Number One.

In the year that the UK introduced decimal currency, East Pakistan was replaced by the new state of Bangladesh and Disney World opened near Orlando (Florida). In the world of music, T-Rex spent a total of 10 weeks at Number One in the UK Charts with their hits 'Hot Love' and 'Get it On'. The Christmas chart topper was from Benny Hill with 'Ernie, the Fastest Milkman in the West.'

In the year that President Idi Amin expelled 80,000 Asians from Uganda, Margaret the Second became Queen of Denmark and Richard Nixon was re-elected as President of the United States. In the world of music, it was a good year for the Osmond brothers with Donny spending 5 weeks at number One with 'Puppy Love' and Jimmy also topping the chart for 5 weeks with the Christmas hit 'Long Haired Lover from Liverpool'.

In the year that the UK, Ireland and Denmark became members of the EEC (European Economic Community), Greece became a Republic, and Augusto Pinochet successfully led an American-backed coup against the democratically elected government of Chile. In the world of music, Sweet with 'Blockbuster', and Slade with 'Merry Christmas Everybody' each spent 5 weeks at Number One in the UK charts.

In the year that US President Richard Nixon resigned as the 'Watergate Scandal' unfurled, Helmut Schmidt was elected Chancellor of West Germany and Turkey invaded Northern Cyprus after a Greek-inspired coup temporarily removed President Makarios from Office. In the world of music, Mud spent a total of 8 weeks at number One in the UK charts with 'Tiger Feet' in January and February, and 'Lonely at Christmas' at Christmas and beyond. It was also the year that Abba won the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Waterloo'.

In the year that Margaret Thatcher took over from Edward Heath as leader of the Conservative Party, Bill Gates founded Microsoft, the Vietnam War ended with the fall of Saigon. and Spanish dictator General Franco died. In the world of music, the Bay City Rollers spent 6 weeks at Number One in the UK charts with 'Bye, Bye. Baby', and the the Christmas chart topper was Queen with 'Bohemian Rhapsody'.

In the year that the first commercial flights of the Concorde Airliner took place between London and Bahrain, and Paris and Rio de Janiero; Harold Wilson resigned as British Prime Minister and was replaced by James Callaghan; and Jimmy Carter beat Gerald Ford to become American President. In the world of music, Brotherhood of Man won the Eurovision Song Contest for Britain with 'Save Your Kisses For Me', and then spent 6 weeks at the top of the charts. There were also 6 weeks at the number One spot for Elton John and Kiki Dee with 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart, and Abba with 'Dancing Queen'.

In the year that Jimmy Carter replaced Gerald Ford as the president of the USA, a tragedy occurred in Tenerife when 2 Jumbo jets collided on the runway killing 583 persons, making it the worst aviation disaster in history, and the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth the Second was celebrated. In the music world, Elvis Presley dies in Memphis, and the UK charts are dominated by Abba 'Knowing You Knowing Me' and Wings 'Mull of Kintyre' the Christmas number 1.

In the year that the oil tanker 'Amoco Cadiz' ran aground on rocks off the coast of Brittany with the resulting spillage causing much damage to marine life, Pope John Paul the Second became the first ever Polish Pope and The states of Tuvalu and Solomon Islands became independent from the United Kingdom. In the world of music, John Travolta and Olivia Newton John dominated the charts with 2 records, 'You're the One that I Want' and 'Summer Nights' spending a total of 16 weeks at Number One in the UK Charts.

In the year that the Shah of Persia went into exile, the Ayatollah Khomeini returned to Iran and declared the country an Islamic Republic. The Conservative Party, led by Margaret Thatcher, won the UK General Election, and condemned the Labour Party to 18 years out of Office; and Greenland was given Home Rule by Denmark. In the world of music, the biggest hit of the year in Britain was Art Garfunkel with 'Bright Eyes' which spent 6 weeks at number 1.

In the year Robert Mugabe was elected Prime Minister of a newly independent Zimbabwe, Lech Walesa founded the snti-communist trades union 'Solidarity' in Poland, and the USA boycotted the Summer Olympics in Moscow. In the world of music, former Beatle John Lennon was murdered in New York, Blondie had 3 number 1s in the UK chart and Police spent 4 weeks at the top with 'Don't Stand so Close to Me.'

In the year that both US President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul the second were shot by would be assassins, Rupert Murdoch became the owner of the British Times and Sunday Times, and the Brixton Riots took place in South London. In the music world, Adam and the Ants was the most popular band with their 2 hits 'Stand and Deliver' and 'Prince Charming' spending a total of 9 weeks at Number One. Bucks Fizz was the UK winner of the European Song contest.

In the year that a British task force successfully liberated the Falkland Islands after they were captured by Argentinians, Spain joined NATO, Helmut Kohl replaced Helmut Schmidt as Chancelllor of West Germany, and Yuri Andropov took over from the late Leonid Breznev as leader of the Soviet Union. In the music world, 'Thriller' by Michael jackson was released and the chart-topper of the year in the UK was 'Come on Eileen' by Dexy's Midnight Runners.

In the year that Margaret Thatcher led the Conservative Party to a second General Election victory over Michael Foot's Labour Party, seat belts became compulsory in cars, and the first edition of Microsoft Word was released. In the world of music, Culture Club with 'Karma Chameleon' was the most successful record of the year spending 6 weeks at the top of the UK charts.

In the year that the first Apple Mac appeared in the shops, the Olympic Games in Los Angeles were boycotted by the Soviet Union and most of its allies, and the Indian Prime Minister Indira Ghandi was assassinated by Sikh members of her bodyguard. In the world of music, it was the year of Frankie Goes to Hollywood with 2 hits, 'Relax' and 'Two Tribes' which spent a total of 14 weeks topping the charts.

In the year that Mikhail Gorbachev became leader of the Soviet Union, the Greenpeace ship, 'Rainbow Warrior' was allegedly sunk in Auckland (New Zealand) by French military intelligence officers, and in a bleak year for English football, a fire at Bradford City football ground claimed the lives of 56 supporters, and riots between Juventus and Liverpool fans in the Heysel Stadium, Belgium, resulted in the death of 13 people. The Live Aid concert for famine relief in Ethopia was the biggest music event of the year, and the British charts were dominated by Paul Hardcastle with '19' and Jennifer Rush with 'The Power of Love' who each spent 5 weeks occupying the number 1 spot.

In the year that the Swedish Prime Minister, Olof Palme was assassinated in Stockholm, a nuclear reactor at Chernobyl (Ukraine) exploded, and Samora Machel, the President of Mozambique, died in a plane crash. In the world of music, the most dominant chart-toppers, each with 4 weeks at number 1, were Billy Ocean, the Communards, Berlin and the Christmas hit by Jackie Wilson 'Reet Petite'.

In the year that the West German pilot Mathias Rust was missed by Russian air defences and landed his light aircraft in Red Square, Moscow, the Conservative government, led by Margaret Thatcher, was elected to a third term in Office, and construction work began on the Channel Tunnel between England and France. In the world of music, Rick Astley with 'Never Gonna Give You Up' and T'Pau with 'China in Your Hand' both spent 5 weeks at Number One in the British Charts.

In the year that a Pan American jumbo jet was destoyed by a bomb over Lockerbie in Scotland, the Pakistan President Zia-Ul-Haq was killed in a plane crash in Pakistan and the Iran/Iraq War ended after a suspected loss of over 1 million lives. In the world of music, Yazz and the Plastic Population and Kylie Minogue were chart toppers in the UK for 5 weeks each.

In the year that SKY Television was launched in Europe, a Fatwa was issued against Salman Rushdie by the Ayatollah Khomeini for his book 'The Satanic Verses', and the Berlin Wall was torn down as Communism collapsed in Europe. In the world of music, Black Box with 'Ride on Time' was the best selling single of the year and spent 6 weeks on top of the hit parade charts.

In the year that saw Iraq invade Kuwait, a precursor to the first Gulf War, Margaret Thatcher was forced to resign as British Prime Minister and was replaced by John Major, Nelson Mandela was released from prison in South Africa. and the re-unification of Germany took place. In the music world, 'Unchained melody' was a hit once again for the Righteous Brothers, 35 years after their original hit, but the chart topper for the longest period was Elton John with 5 weeks at number 1 with 'Sacrifice/Healing Hands'.

In the year that The Soviet Union ceased to exist, the KGB was disbanded and Boris Yeltsin was elected Russian President. Operation Desert Storm took place to free Kuwait from Iraqi occupation, and Tim Berners-Lee built the first 'Web Site' and offered a new concept 'The World Wide Web'. In the world of music, Freddie Mercury of Queen died of an AIDs related illness and the British charts were dominated by Bryan Adams with 'Everything I do, I do it for you' which spent 16 weeks at number 1.

In the year that Michael Schumacher won the first of his 91 Formula One Grand Prix victories, Slovenia and Croatia gained independence from Yugoslavia. and the Conservative Party, under John Major, was elected to govern the Uk for the 4th consecutive term. In the music world, Shakespears Sister spent 8 weeks at number 1 in the UK charts with their record 'Stay'.

In the year that Czechoslovakia became two countries, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia, Bill Clinton became the 42nd President of the USA, and the Maastricht Treaty came into operation establishing the European Union. In the music world, the longest chart-topper of the year was Meatloaf with 'I'd do anything for love'.

In the year that the Rwandan Genocide occurred after the plane carrying the Presidents of both Rwanda and Burundi was shot down, Nelson Mandela became the first black President of South Africa, and the Channel Tunnel for rail traffic opened between France and England. In the music world, Wet, Wet, Wet spent 15 weeks at number one in the UK charts with a remake of the old Troggs hit 'Love is all around'.

In the year that Austria, Finland and Sweden joined the European Union, Jacques Chirac was elected President of France, and O.J Simpson was found nor guilty of murder. In the world of music, Celine Dion and 'Think Twice' spent 7 weeks at the top of the UK charts, but Robson and Jerome were number 1 for a total of 11 weeks with their remakes of 'Unchained Melody' and I Believe'.

In the year that Dolly the Sheep was born and became the first surviving cloned mammal, Martina Hingis became the youngest person to win a Wimbledon tennis final, and the Prince and Princess of Wales were divorced. In the music world, an estimated 3.5 million people applied for tickets for two Oasis concerts at Knebworth. There were only 250,000 tickets issued.

In the year that British scientists announced the cloning of a sheep, named Dolly, in Scotland, the Labour Party , renamed New Labour and led by Tony Blair, replaced the Conservatives who had governed the UK for 18 years. The transfer of Hong Kong sovereignty from Britain to China took place, Diana, Princess of Wales, died in a car crash and Mother Teresa of Calcutta died of natural causes. In the music world, Puff Daddy and Faith Evans with 'I'll be missing you' were the longest chart toppers of the year with 6 weeks at number 1.

In the year that the Belfast Agreement, known as the Good Friday Agreement, was signed by the Irish and British Governments, paving the way for peaceful co-existence between the Protestant and Nationalist comminunities in Northern Ireland, a Company named 'Google' was founded, and Gerhard Schroder defeats Helmut Kohl to become Chancellor of Germany. In the music world, Dana International from Israel won the Eurovision Song Contest and the British Charts were dominated by Cher with 'Believe'.

In the year that the Euro makes its debut in several European countries, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic join Nato; Macau was handed over to China by Portugal and Vladimir Putin replaced Boris Yeltsin as President of the Russian Federation. In the music world the UK Charts were dominated by Westlife.

In the year that Dr Harold Shipman was found guilty of murdering 15 of his patients, Vladimir Putin was elected President of the Russian Federation, and a New York-bound Air France Concorde crashed on take off from Paris, Charles de Gaulle Airport with no survivors. In the USA Presidential elections, Republican George W Bush defeated Al Gore by the smallest of margins. In the music world, Westlife started the year at Number 1 with 'I have a dream/Seasons in the Sun. No other musical act topped the charts for more than 2 weeks before Bob the Builder's Christmas Number 1 'Can we fix it' which topped the charts for 3 weeks.

In the year that drought and an unprecedented heatwave led to widespread bushfires and loss of life in Victoria State, Australia; a disputed presidential election in Iran returned Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for a second term in Office, and the 'Swine' 'flu pandemic led to thousands of deaths world-wide.