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Events from the year 1999 in the United Kingdom.
[edit] Incumbents
[edit] Events
- 24 February - The report of the murder of black London teenager Stephen Lawrence, who died six years ago, condemns London's police force as "institutionally racist", as well as condemning its officers for "fundamental errors".
- 20 March - Brian Jones and Swiss balloonist Bertrand Piccard complete the first non-stop hot air balloon circumnavigation of the world. [1]
- 26 March - A total £2billion in compensation is paid to 100,000 former miners who are suffering from lung disease after years of working in British coalfields.
- 29 March - The family of James Hanratty - one of the last men to be executed in Britain for the A6 murder 37 years ago - are given the right to appeal against his murder conviction by the Criminal Cases Review Commission.
- April - Vauxhall launches its Zafira, a compact MPV which makes use of the Astra hatchback's chassis.
- April 1- A minimum wage is introduced throughout the UK- set at £3.60 an hour for workers over 21, and £3 for workers under 22.
- 14 April - Edgar Pearce, the so-called "Mardi Gra bomber", convicted for a series of bombings and sentenced to 21 years in jail. [2]
- April 17- A bomb planted by David Copeland, the "London nailbomber" explodes in Brixton, South London injures 45 people.
- April 24- A second bomb planted by David Copeland explodes in Brick Lane, East London injuring 13 people.
- April 26- TV presenter Jill Dando, 37, dies after being shot on the doorstep of her Fulham home.
- April 30- A third bomb planted by David Copeland explodes in the Admiral Duncan pub, in Old Compton Street, Soho, London- the centre of the London gay scene- killing two people and injuring over thirty. Copeland is arrested later that night.
- May 6-
- May 7- The Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats form a coalition government in Scotland, with Donald Dewar as the First Minister of Scotland.
- May 12- The Scottish Parliament meets in Edinburgh for its first session.
- May 21- Jill Dando is buried in her hometown of Weston-super-Mare.
- May 24- England national rugby team captain Lawrence Dallaglio resigns after a tabloid newspaper accused him of having taken drugs.
- May 26- The Welsh Assembly meets in Cardiff for its first session.
- June 8- former cabinet minister, Jonathan Aitken is sentenced to 18 months prison for perjury.
- June 19- The marriage of The Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones takes place at St. George's Chapel, Windsor. The Queen creates Prince Edward, her third and youngest son, Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn.
- August 9- Charles Kennedy elected leader of the Liberal Democrats.
- August 11- The Total Eclipse attracts the attention of 350million people across Europe, with Cornwall being the only region of Britain to experience totality.
- August 22- Norfolk farmer Tony Martin, 54, is charged with the murder of a 16-year-old burglar who was shot dead at his home two days ago. He is also charged with wounding a 29-year-old man who was also present at the time of the burglary.
- September 24- The Bank of Scotland launches a hostile takeover bid for the NatWest Bank.
- October 1- The 1999 Rugby World Cup begins in the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.
- October 5- Ladbroke Grove rail crash- thirty-one people are killed when two trains collide at Ladbroke Grove Junction, 2 miles west of Paddington station, London.
- December 27 - Former Beatle George Harrison, 56, suffers minor stab wounds after being attacked by an intruder at his Oxfordshire mansion.
[edit] Births
[edit] Deaths
- 6 March - Dennis Viollet, footballer (b. 1933)
- 17 March - Rod Hull, entertainer (b. 1935)
- 21 March - Ernie Wise, comedian (b. 1925)
- 14 April - Anthony Newley, actor, singer and songwriter (b. 1931)
- 26 April - Jill Dando, journalist and television presenter (murdered) (b. 1961)
- 28 May - Sir Alf Ramsey, footballer and football manager (b. 1920)
- 2 May - Oliver Reed, actor (b. 1938)
- 8 May - Dirk Bogarde, actor and author (b. 1921)
- 8 June - Christina Foyle, bookshop owner (b. 1911)
- 12 July - Bill Owen, actor (b. 1914)
- 11 November - Vivian Fuchs, explorer (b. 1908)
- 19 December - Desmond Llewelyn, actor (b. 1913/1914)
[edit] References
