1986 in the United Kingdom

Events from the year 1986 in the United Kingdom.

Incumbents

*Monarch - HM Queen Elizabeth II
*Prime Minister - Margaret Thatcher, Conservative

Events

*4 January - Phil Lynott, the former lead singer of rock band Thin Lizzy, dies in Salisbury Hospital at the age of 36. He had been admitted on Boxing Day after collapsing at his home in Kew. Lynott's condition had deteriorated over the last few days, and he finally died as a result of multiple organ failure - the consequence of heavy drinking and drug abuse. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/4/newsid_4041000/4041511.stm|title="1986: Thin Lizzy star dies", BBC News|accessdate=2007-11-28]
*9 January - Michael Heseltine resigns as Defence Secretary over the Westland affair. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/9/newsid_2516000/2516187.stm|title="1986: Heseltine quits over Westland", BBC News|accessdate=2007-11-28]
*20 January - The United Kingdom and France announce plans to construct the Channel Tunnel, which they hope to open by the early 1990s.
*24 January - Leon Brittan resigns as Trade and Industry Secretary over Westland affair. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/24/newsid_2506000/2506501.stm|title="1986: Leon Brittan quits over Westland", BBC News|accessdate=2007-11-28]
*15 February - In the Wapping dispute, fifty-eight people arrested by police at a demonstration.
*17 February - The UK signs the Single European Act.cite book |last=Palmer |first=Alan & Veronica |year=1992 |title= The Chronology of British History|publisher= Century Ltd|location=London|pages= 452-453|isbn= 0-7126-5616-2]
*4 March - Launch of the Today national tabloid newspaper in the United Kingdom that pioneered the use of computer photosetting and full-colour offset printing at a time when British national newspapers were still using Linotype machines and letterpress. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/15/newsid_3455000/3455083.stm|title="1986: Printers and police clash in Wapping", BBC News|accessdate=2007-11-28]
*31 March
** A fire causes extensive damage at Hampton Court Palace in Surrey.
**Greater London Council abolished. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/31/newsid_2530000/2530803.stm|title="1986: Greater London Council abolished", BBC News|accessdate=2007-11-28]
*7 April - Clive Sinclair sells rights to ZX Spectrum and other inventions to Amstrad. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/7/newsid_2472000/2472345.stm|title="1986: Sinclair sells computer business", BBC News|accessdate=2007-11-28]
*17 April
** Journalist John McCarthy is kidnapped in Beirut, where three other hostages are found dead. The Revolutionary Cells (RZ) claims responsibility as revenge for the recent American bombing of Libya.
** Treaty signed, ending Three Hundred and Thirty Five Years' War between the Netherlands and the Isles of Scilly.
*29 April - Wallis, The Duchess of Windsor, is buried at Frogmore. She died earlier this month, aged 89, after a long struggle against ill health. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/29/newsid_2500000/2500427.stm|title="1986: Simple funeral rites for Duchess", BBC News|accessdate=2007-11-28]
*10 June - Patrick Joseph Magee found guilty of Brighton hotel bombing 20 months ago and sentenced to life imprisonment. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/10/newsid_2510000/2510649.stm|title="1986: Magee convicted of Brighton bombing", BBC News|accessdate=2007-11-28]
*12 June - Derek Hatton, leader of Liverpool council, expelled from the Labour Party for belonging to the Militant Tendency faction. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/12/newsid_2511000/2511839.stm|title="1986: Labour expels Militant Hatton", BBC News|accessdate=2007-11-28]
*24 June - Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party stage protest at dissolution of Northern Ireland Assembly. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/24/newsid_2519000/2519077.stm|title="1986: Ian Paisley's battle cry condemned", BBC News|accessdate=2007-11-28]
*29 June - Richard Branson beats Atlantics speed record but is denied Blue Riband award. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/26/newsid_2519000/2519869.stm|title="1986: Branson on course for Blue Riband", BBC News|accessdate=2007-11-28] [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/29/newsid_2520000/2520929.stm|title="1986: Branson beats Atlantic speed record", BBC News|accessdate=2007-11-28]
* July - Nissan begins production of the Bluebird at its landmark factory near Sunderland.
*10 July - Austin Rover launches its new Honda-based Rover 800 executive car, which replaces the decade-old Rover SD1. The car will also be sold in America under the Sterling marque.
*12 July - Rioting breaks out in Portadown in Northern Ireland between Protestants and Catholics. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/12/newsid_2502000/2502517.stm|title="1986: Orange Parade sparks riots", BBC News|accessdate=2007-11-28]
*23 July - In London, Prince Andrew, Duke of York marries Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/23/newsid_2516000/2516203.stm|title="1986: Prince Andrew weds Sarah Ferguson", BBC News|accessdate=2007-11-28]
*24 July–2 August - 1986 Commonwealth Games held in Edinburgh.
*30 July - Estate agent Suzy Lamplugh vanishes after a meeting in London. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/30/newsid_2492000/2492647.stm|title="1986: Parents appeal for missing agent", BBC News|accessdate=2007-11-28]
* August - The GCSE exam replaces both the GCE 'O' Level and CSE exams for 16-year olds.
*22 August - John Stalker, deputy chief constable of Greater Manchester police, cleared of misconduct over allegations of associating with criminals. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/22/newsid_2535000/2535029.stm|title="1986: Police chief cleared of misconduct", BBC News|accessdate=2007-11-28]
*29 August - Britain's oldest twins, May and Marjorie Chavasse, celebrate their 100th birthday. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/29/newsid_2536000/2536297.stm|title="1986: UK's oldest twins turn 100", BBC News|accessdate=2007-11-28]
*8 September - Margaret Thatcher officially opens the first phase of the Nissan car factory at Sunderland, which has been in use for two months. It is the first car factory to be built in Europe by a Japanese carmaker.
*19 September - Two people killed and 100 injured at the Colwich rail crash. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/19/newsid_2524000/2524593.stm|title="1986: Two dead in Midlands rail crash", BBC News|accessdate=2007-11-28]
*7 October - first edition of "The Independent" published.cite book|title=Penguin Pocket On This Day|publisher=Penguin Reference Library|isbn=0-141-02715-0|year=2006]
*12 October - Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh visit the People's Republic of China; the first visit to that country by a British monarch.
*24 October - UK breaks off diplomatic relations with Syria over links to Hindawi Affair. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/24/newsid_2478000/2478505.stm|title="1986: UK cuts links with Syria over bomb plot", BBC News|accessdate=2007-11-28]
*26 October
**Bus deregulation in the United Kingdom, except Greater London and Northern Ireland.
**Jeffrey Archer resigns as Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party over allegations concerning prostitutes. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/26/newsid_2478000/2478303.stm|title="1986: Archer quits over prostitute allegations"|title="1986: Archer quits over prostitute allegations", BBC News|accessdate=2007-11-28]
*27 October - London Stock Exchange is computerised, and opens to foreign companies.
*28 October - Jeremy Bamber is found guilty of the murder of his parents, sister and twin nephews and is sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommended minimum of 25 years, which is likely to keep him behind bars until at least 2011. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/28/newsid_2477000/2477857.stm|title="1986: 'Evil' Bamber jailed for family murders", BBC News|accessdate=2007-11-28]
* November - Vauxhall launches its second generation Carlton executive saloon, giving the British division of General Motors a fresh rival for the Ford Granada and Rover 800.
*6 November - Forty seven oil workers killed when a Chinook helicopter carrying them from the Brent oilfield crashed. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/6/newsid_2538000/2538505.stm|title="1986: Oil workers die in helicopter crash", BBC News|accessdate=2007-11-28]
*18 November - Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, who are both still behind bars some 20 years after their Moors Murders convictions, confess to the murders of two missing children. They admit their responsibility for the deaths of Pauline Reade, who vanished in July 1963 at the age of 16, and Keith Bennett, who was last seen in June 1964 at the age of 12.
*20 November - Police begin their search for the two newly identified Moors Murders victims. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/20/newsid_2551000/2551029.stm|title="1986: Police renew hunt for Moors victims", BBC News|accessdate=2007-11-28]
*1 December - Government launches inquiry into financial irregularities at Guinness. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/1/newsid_2495000/2495057.stm|title="1986: Surprise inquiry into Guinness affairs", BBC News|accessdate=2007-11-28]
*8 December - British Gas shares floated on the Stock Exchange.
*17 December - The world's first heart, lung and liver transplant is carried out at Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire.

Undated

*Mathematician Simon Donaldson wins a Fields Medal.cite book |title= The Hutchinson Factfinder |publisher= Helicon |year= 1999 |isbn= 1-85986-000-1 ]
* The Harrison Birtwistle opera "The Mask of Orpheus" premieres in London.

Publications

*Kingsley Amis's novel "The Old Devils".
*Iain Banks' novel "The Bridge".
*John le Carré's novel "A Perfect Spy".
*Terry Pratchett's Discworld novel "The Light Fantastic".

Births

*24 January - Mischa Barton, British-born American actress
*21 February - Charlotte Church, soprano
*14 March - Jamie Bell, actor
*16 September - Hasib Hussain, suicide bomber (died 2005)
*18 September - Keeley Hazell, model
*8 December - Amir Khan, boxer

Deaths

*4 January
**Phil Lynott, singer (born 1949)
**Christopher Isherwood, novelist (born 1904)
*10 March - Ray Milland, actor (born 1907)
*3 April - Peter Pears, tenor (born 1910)
*29 April - Wallis, The Duchess of Windsor (born 1896)
*23 April - Jim Laker, cricketer (born 1922)
*31 August - Henry Moore, sculptor (born 1898)
*18 September - Pat Phoenix, actress (born 1923)
*5 October - James H. Wilkinson, mathematician (born 1919)
*28 October
**John Braine, novelist (born 1922)
**Ian Marter, actor and writer (born 1944)
*29 November - Cary Grant, actor (born 1904)
*22 December - David Penhaligon, Liberal party MP (killed in a car crash) (born 1944)
*29 December - Harold Macmillan, Prime Minister (born 1894)

References

ee also