Timeline of events
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January 20
Trial of the Great Train Robbers begins
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January 26
The government announces plans for a fleet of five Polaris submarines
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April 14
BBC Two goes on air for the first time
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September 21
Malta becomes independent from the UK
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October 15
General election won by Labour, Harold Wilson becomes Prime Minister by a majority of only 4
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December 17
All prescription charges to be free from February.1965
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January 24
Death of Sir Winston Churchill, Prime Minister 1940-45 and 1951-55
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February 16
British Rail publishes plans to slash the rail network by half, based on the Beeching Report
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April 19
150,000 CND protesters show hostility to USA over Vietnam
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July 28
Douglas-Home is succeeded as Conservative leader by Edward Heath
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August 5
Trade Disputes Act: gives new safeguards to Trade Unions against prosecution
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November 8
Abolition of the death penalty; the Murder Act becomes law
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March 31
Labour wins the general election with a majority of 97
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July
England beat Germany to win the World Cup 4-2
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October 21
Aberfan disaster: coal tip slides down on mining village in South Wales, killing 116 children and 28 adults
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February 22
Iron and Steel Nationalisation Bill enacted
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May 11
Britain applies to join the EEC
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June 1
The Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album is released
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July 14
Decimal Currency Act: provides for currency change by 1971
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September 10
The people of Gibraltar vote to keep ties with the UK
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November 19
In the worst financial crisis for nearly 20 years the pound is devalued
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December 11
The world’s first supersonic aircraft, the Anglo-French co-operation Concorde, is revealed at Toulouse
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February 19
The Home Office launches an anti-theft drive based on the slogan, “Watch Out! There’s a Thief about”
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April 23
First Decimal coins (5p and 10p) issued
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June 10
NHS prescription charges re-introduced
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September 16
Mail differentiation: first and second-class post created
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November 26
The Race Relations Act comes into force
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January 1
Baron Constantine of Maraval and Nelson, West Indian cricketer and diplomat, becomes first black peer in the House of Lords
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April 21
British Army ordered to guard key points in Ulster following riots in Belfast and Londonderry
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June 8
Spain lays siege to the Rock of Gibraltar
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July 1
Investiture of Price of Wales at Caernarvon Castle
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December16-18
House of Commons and House of Lords vote to permanently abolish the death penalty
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January 1
Legal age of majority and voting age reduced from 21 to 18
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March 2
White Rhodesians proclaim an independent republic in what is today known as Zimbabwe
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April 18
British Leyland announces that the Morris Minor, Britain’s longest running car, will cease production by 1971
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May 29
Equal Pay Bill enacted
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June 18
Conservatives win the general election by a majority of 30
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June 19
Edward Heath becomes Prime Minister
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June 20
Margaret Thatcher becomes Secretary for Education
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September 7-12
Palestinian Liberation Organisation hijacks and blows up 3 aircraft in Jordan to secure release of female Palestinian terrorist held in London
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February 15
Decimal coinage replaces shillings and pence
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April 19
Figures show unemployment at 814,819, the highest since May 1940
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June 15 to 29
Widespread protests at Margaret Thatcher’s plans to end free school milk in schools
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October 28
House of Commons and Lords vote in favour of joining EEC
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January 9
Miners’ strike causes disruption
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January 22
Heath signs accession to EEC in Brussels
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Feb 28
Miners return to work having had demand for better wages and working conditions recognised by the government
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August 4
President Amin of Uganda orders the expulsion of 40,000 British Commonwealth Asians
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September 17
Asian refugees from Uganda begin to arrive in Britain
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October 17
European Communities Act: provides for entry into EEC
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November 6
Government introduces 90-day freeze on prices, pay, rent and dividends in an attempt to curb inflation
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January 1
Britain joins the EEC
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April 1
Introduction of Value Added Tax
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July 5
Social Security Act: single basic-rate pension system
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October
Middle Eastern oil-producing nations stop exporting to the US and Western nations resulting in world fuel shortages and inflating oil prices
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November 12
Miners impose overtime ban causing a drastic cut in production
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December 5
To conserve fuel 50 mph speed limit is imposed
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January 1
Power-sharing executive under Brian Faulkener set up in Belfast, Northern Ireland
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February 7
Grenada becomes independent within Commonwealth
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February 10
Total miners’ strike begins
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March 4
An inconclusive General Election result returns a hung parliament. Failing to form a government, Heath resigns. Wilson becomes Prime Minister and forms a minority Labour government
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March 11
Miner’s strike ends with acceptance of pay offer
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June 21
Inflation soars to post-war record of 16 per cent
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October 5
IRA Guildford pub bombings kill 5 people
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November 29
Prevention of Terrorism Act: gives police wide powers of detention and deportation
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January 20
The government abandons the Channel Tunnel
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February 10
Conservative leadership election is won by Margaret Thatcher. She is the first female to lead a major political party in Britain
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June 5
Referendum on membership of EEC:67 per cent of population vote in favour
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November 12
Sex Discrimination Act: ensures equality of opportunity for men and women in job applications
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December 29
Women’s Equal Pay Act comes into force
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January 21
Concorde’s inaugural transatlantic flight
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March 16
Wilson announces that he will resign as Prime Minister
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April 5
James Callaghan become Prime Minister
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August 30
Racial rioting follows the Notting Hill Carnival in London
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September 2
Britain condemned by European Commission on Human Rights for ill-treatment of detainees in Ulster
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September 29
Britain announces intention of borrowing £2300 million from the International Monetary Fund as the pound’s value plummets
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November 4
Loss of two by-elections leaves Callaghan leading a minority government
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March 23
Callaghan and David Steel announce ‘Lib-Lab’ pact for collaboration over certain issues
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June 6 to 13
Queen Elizabeth II celebrates the Silver Jubilee marking the twenty-fifth year of her reign
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October 31
The British Government allows sterling to float upwards and effectively revalues the pound
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December 13
114 ‘rebel’ Labour MPs join the opposition to vote against proposals in European Assembly Bill for proportional representation in European Elections
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April 11
Free school milk for 7 to 11-year-olds restored by government
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May 1
May Day is celebrated as a public holiday for the first time in Britain
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July 31
Scottish and Welsh Devolution Acts: not implemented
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December 5
Britain announces it will not join the EEC’s new European Monetary System
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January 22
24-hour public employees’ strike hits hospitals and schools
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January 28
Callaghan loses a no-confidence vote and agrees to dissolve Parliament leading to a General Election
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May 3
General election gives Conservatives overall majority of 43 and on March 4 Margaret Thatcher becomes Prime Minister
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June 7
First election for European Parliament brings out only a third of the electorate but favours the Conservatives
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November 21
Sir Anthony Blunt, distinguished art historian, is denounced by Mrs Thatcher as a Soviet spy
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December 11
Rhodesian Parliament ends rebellion
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