1975 in the United Kingdom

Events from the year 1975 in the United Kingdom.

Incumbents

*Monarch - HM Queen Elizabeth II
*Prime Minister - Harold Wilson, Labour Party

Events

* 14 January - Heiress Lesley Whittle (17), the daughter of late bus operator George Whittle (1905-1967), is kidnapped from her home near Bridgnorth in Shropshire. Her mother and brother have received a letter demanding a £50,000 ransom.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/14/newsid_2530000/2530669.stm|title="1975: Heiress Lesley Whittle kidnapped", BBC On This Day|accessdate=2008-02-06]
* 24 January - Donald Coggan enthroned as Archbishop of Canterbury.
* 11 February - Margaret Thatcher defeats Edward Heath in the Conservative Party leadership election. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/11/newsid_2539000/2539451.stm|title="1975: Tories choose first woman leader", BBC On This Day|accessdate=2008-02-06]
* 26 February - A fleeing IRA terrorist shoots and kills off-duty London police officer Stephen Tibble, 22, as he gives chase. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/27/newsid_2515000/2515789.stm|title="1975: PC murder linked to IRA bomb factory", BBC On This Day|accessdate=2008-02-06]
* 28 February - A major tube train crash at Moorgate station, London kills 43 people. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/28/newsid_2515000/2515033.stm|title="1975: Dozens killed in Moorgate Tube crash", BBC On This Day|accessdate=2008-02-06]
* 4 March - Charlie Chaplin is knighted by the Queen. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/4/newsid_2794000/2794107.stm|title="1975: Comic genius Chaplin is knighted", BBC On This Day|accessdate=2008-02-06]
* 7 March - The body of teenage heiress Lesley Whittle, who disappeared from her Shropshire home in January, is discovered in Staffordshire. She had been strangled on a ledge in drains below Bathpool Park near Kidsgrove. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/7/newsid_2516000/2516085.stm|title="1975: Kidnapped heiress found strangled", BBC On This Day|accessdate=2008-02-06]
* 25 March - A large National Front rally in London protests against European integration. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/25/newsid_2531000/2531185.stm|title="1975: National Front rallies against Europe", BBC On This Day|accessdate=2008-02-06]
* April - Carmaker Vauxhall launches the entry-level Chevette, a small three-door hatchback which has rear-wheel drive and from next year will also be available as a saloon and an estate.
* 13 April - A 22-year-old woman is raped at her bedsit in Cambridge. Cambridgeshire Police believe that she is the sixth victim of a mystery rapist who has been operating across the city since October last year. In June, Cambridgeshire Police arrest 47-year-old Peter Cook in connection with the rapes; he is sentenced to life imprisonment in October. [cite web|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/13/newsid_2524000/2524403.stm|title="1975: 'Cambridge rapist' strikes again", BBC On This Day|accessdate=2008-02-06]
* 26 April - A conference of members of the Labour Party vote against continued membership of the EEC. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/26/newsid_2503000/2503155.stm |title="1975: Labour votes to leave the EEC", BBC On This Day|accessdate=2008-02-06]
* 5 June - 67% of voters support continued membership of the EEC in a referendum. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/6/newsid_2499000/2499297.stm|title="1975: UK embraces Europe in referendum", BBC On This Day|accessdate=2008-02-06]
* 9 June - Proceedings in Parliament broadcast on radio for the first time. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/9/newsid_2500000/2500721.stm|title="1975: First live broadcast of Parliament", BBC On This Day|accessdate=2008-02-06]
* 19 June - Lord Lucan is found guilty in absentia of the murder of nanny Sandra Rivett. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/19/newsid_2516000/2516103.stm|title="1975: Missing earl guilty of murder", BBC On This Day|accessdate=2008-02-06]
* 14 August Hampstead enters the UK Weather Records with the "Highest 155-min total" rainfall at 169 mm. As of July 2006 this record remains.
* 19 August - Headingley cricket ground vandalised by supporters of the armed robber George Davis campaigning for his release from prison. A scehduled test match between England and Australia due to take place there had to be abandoned. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/19/newsid_2534000/2534763.stm|title="1975: Davis campaigners stop Test match", BBC On This Day|accessdate=2008-02-06]
* September - Chrysler UK launches its new Alpine five-door family hatchback, a modern front-wheel drive car to compete with the conventional Ford Cortina, Morris Marina and Vauxhall Cavalier rear-wheel drive saloons. The new car is also built in France as the Simca 1307. [cite web|url=http://www.rootes-chrysler.co.uk/car-development/dev-alpine.html|title=Development of the Chrysler - Talbot Alpine cars|accessdate=2008-02-14]
* 5 September - The London Hilton hotel bombed by the IRA killing two people and injuring 63 others. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/5/newsid_2499000/2499203.stm|title="1975: London Hilton bombed", BBC On This Day|accessdate=2008-02-06]
* 19 September - the first episode of the popular sitcom "Fawlty Towers" broadcast.cite book|title=Penguin Pocket On This Day|publisher=Penguin Reference Library|isbn=0-141-02715-0|year=2006]
* 24 September - Dougal Haston and Doug Scott become the first British people to climb Mount Everest. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/24/newsid_2538000/2538093.stm|title="1975: First Britons conquer Everest", BBC On This Day|accessdate=2008-02-06]
* 28 September–3 October - The Spaghetti House siege, in which nine people were taken as hostages, takes place in London. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/3/newsid_4286000/4286414.stm|title="1975: London's Spaghetti House siege ends", BBC On This Day|accessdate=2008-02-06]
* October - Vauxhall announces its second new model launch of the year - the Cavalier, which replaces the Victor and is based on the German Opel Ascona, is a direct competitor for the big-selling Ford Cortina.
* 9 October - An IRA bomb explosion outside Green Park tube station near Piccadilly in London kills one and injures 20. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/9/newsid_2531000/2531191.stm|title="1975: Man killed in Piccadilly bomb blast", BBC On This Day|accessdate=2008-02-06]
* 10 October - West Yorkshire Police launch a murder investigation after 28-year-old prostitute Wilma McCann is found dead in Leeds.
* 3 November - The first petroleum pipeline in the UK is formally opened by the Queen, running from Cruden Bay to Grangemouth in Scotland. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/3/newsid_2538000/2538155.stm|title="1975: North Sea oil begins to flow", BBC On This Day|accessdate=2008-02-06]
* 6 November - First public performance by punk rock band the Sex Pistols.
* 12 November - Employment Protection Act establishes ACAS to arbitrate industrial disputes, and legislates against unfair dismissal.cite book |last=Palmer |first=Alan & Veronica |year=1992 |title= The Chronology of British History|publisher= Century Ltd|location=London|pages= 437-438|isbn= 0-7126-5616-2]
* 27 November - Ross McWhirter, the co-founder of the Guinness Book of Records, is shot dead by the Provisional Irish Republican Army for offering reward money to informers. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/27/newsid_2528000/2528787.stm|title="1975: TV presenter Ross McWhirter shot dead", BBC On This Day|accessdate=2008-02-06]
* 29 November - Former racing driver Graham Hill, 46, dies in an air crash in Hertfordshire. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/29/newsid_2527000/2527363.stm|title="1975: Graham Hill killed in air crash", BBC On This Day|accessdate=2008-02-06]
* December - Donald Neilson, 39, is arrested in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, on suspicion of being the "Black Panther" murderer who is believed to have carried out five murders in the last two years.
* 5 December - Government ends Internment of suspected terrorists in Northern Ireland.
* 6 December–12 December - Balcombe Street Siege: IRA members on the run from police break into a London flat taking the residents hostage. The siege ended after six days with the gunmen giving themselves up to the police. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/6/newsid_4261000/4261478.stm|title="1975: Couple under siege in Balcombe Street", BBC On This Day|accessdate=2008-02-06] [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/12/newsid_2546000/2546477.stm|title="1975: Balcombe Street siege ends, BBC On This Day|accessdate=2008-02-06]
* 11 December - British and Icelandic ships clash marking the beginning of the third Cod War. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/11/newsid_2546000/2546045.stm|title="1975: Attack on British vessels heightens Cod War", BBC On This Day|accessdate=2008-02-06]
* 29 December - two new laws, the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and the Equal Pay Act 1970, came into force aiming to end unequal pay of men and women in the workplace. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/29/newsid_2547000/2547249.stm|title="1975: New laws to end battle of the sexes", BBC On This Day|accessdate=2008-02-06]

Publications

* Malcolm Bradbury's novel "The History Man".
* Agatha Christie's final Hercule Poirot novel "Curtain".
* Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's novel "Heat and Dust".
* Paul Scott's novel "A Division of the Spoils", the final part of the Raj Quartet.

Births

* 13 January - Shazia Mirza, comedienne
* 15 January - Edith Bowman, Radio DJ
* 18 February
** Keith Gillespie, footballer
** Gary Neville, footballer
* 21 March - Mark Williams, snooker player
* 9 April - Robbie Fowler, footballer
* 2 May - David Beckham, footballer
* 18 May - John Higgins, snooker player
* 22 May - Kelly Morgan, badminton player
* 27 May - Jamie Oliver, chef and television personality
* 29 May - Melanie Brown, singer
* 19 June - Ed Coode, rower
* 12 July - Hannah Waterman, actress
* 15 July - Jill Halfpenny, actress
* 17 July - Konnie Huq, television presenter
* 30 July - Graham Nicholls, artist
* 31 July - Simon Hirst, DJ
* 22 August - Sheree Murphy, actress
* 18 September - Richard Appleby, football player
* 23 September - Chris Hawkins, radio personality
* 25 September - Declan Donnelly, TV presenter and one half of Ant and Dec
* 5 October - Kate Winslet, actress
* 27 October - Zadie Smith, novelist
* 18 November - Anthony McPartlin, TV presenter and one half of Ant and Dec
* 5 December - Ronnie O'Sullivan, snooker player

Deaths

* 8 February - Robert Robinson, chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1886)
* 14 February
** Julian Huxley, biologist (born 1887)
** P. G. Wodehouse, writer (born 1881)
* 26 February - Stephen Tibble, London police officer (shot) (born 1953)
* 3 March - T. H. Parry-Williams, poet (born 1887)
* 23 April - William Hartnell, actor (born 1908)
* 24 April - Peter Ham, musician (born 1947)
* 20 May - Barbara Hepworth, sculptor (born 1903)
* 21 May - A. H. Dodd, historian (born 1891)
* 7 August - Jim Griffiths, politician (born 1890)
* 10 September - George Paget Thomson, physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1892)
* 25 November - Moyna Macgill, actress (born 1895)
* 27 November - Ross McWhirter, co-founder of the "Guinness Book of Records" (born 1925)
* 29 November
** Tony Brise, racing driver (born 1952)
** Graham Hill, race car driver (born 1929)

References

ee also