1968: Decimal coins reach the high street.
The first decimal coins make their way into purses throughout Britain in preparation for replacing the current system of pounds, shillings and pence by 1971.

1967: Russian cosmonaut dies in space crash.
The Soviet Union announces the catastrophic failure of its latest space mission, with the crash of Soyuz 1 and the death of the cosmonaut on board.

1982: Marines land in South Georgia.
Britain re-establishes its presence in the Falkland Islands after a two-hour assault by Royal Marines on the remote island of South Georgia.

1962: First US rocket lands on Moon.
The American Moon rocket Ranger IV lands on the far side of the Moon but fails to send back pictures due a technical fault.

1984: Libyan embassy siege ends.
The siege of the Libyan Embassy in London ends 11 days after the shooting of WPC Yvonne Fletcher outside the St James's Square building.

2001: First space tourist blasts off.
A billionaire businessman from California becomes the first paying passenger to go to outer space.

1992: LA in flames after 'not guilty' verdict.
Fierce rioting breaks out in Los Angeles following the acquittal of four white police officers accused of beating black motorist Rodney King.

1952: Anne Frank published in English.
The British public gets the chance to read The Diary of a Young Girl, written by Anne Frank who hid from the Nazis in Holland during the war.

1994: Race ace Senna killed in car crash.
The world-class Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna dies in a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix in Italy.

1952: Comet inaugurates the jet age.
The world's first ever jet airliner - the De Havilland Comet 1 - sets off from London to Johannesburg on its maiden flight

1968: Surgeons conduct UK's first heart transplant.
The first heart transplant in Britain is carried out at the National Heart Hospital in Marylebone, London.

1979: Election victory for Margaret Thatcher.
The Conservative Party wins the general election making Margaret Thatcher Britain's first woman prime minister.

1980: SAS rescue ends Iran embassy siege.
The siege of the Iranian embassy in London comes to a dramatic end after a raid by SAS commandos.

1954: Bannister breaks four-minute mile.
Roger Bannister, a 25-year-old British medical student, becomes the first man to run a mile in less than four minutes.