1977: Star Wars fever hits Britain.
Thousands of people flock to UK cinemas to watch the long-awaited blockbuster, Star Wars.

1950 Derbyshire's Peak District became Britain’s first National Park.

1918 The Sunday Express was published for the first time.

1986: Coal mine canaries made redundant.
More than 200 canary birds are to be phased out of Britain's mining pits and replaced by hand-held gas detectors.

1999: UK prepares to celebrate millennium.
Britain gears up to join a global party with a spectacular array of revelries to welcome in the third millennium.

1973: Britain joins the EEC.
The United Kingdom becomes a fully-fledged member of the European Economic Community.

1969: Murdoch wins Fleet Street foothold.
The Australian media magnate, Rupert Murdoch, beats off a rival bid to win control of the News of the World newspaper group. It is his first Fleet Street newspaper.

1961. The production of the millionth Morris Minor.

1967: Campbell killed during record attempt
Donald Campbell dies while attempting to break his own water speed record in his jet-powered boat, Bluebird K7.

2001: Shipman 'may have killed hundreds'.
The former GP Harold Shipman may have killed more than 300 of his patients, a report reveals.

The first episode of TV's Inspector Morse was broadcast. It was based in Oxford.

1990: Leaning Tower of Pisa closed to public.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is closed to the public for the first time in its history amid safety fears

1959: De Gaulle becomes president.
General Charles de Gaulle is proclaimed first President of the new Fifth Republic in France during a brief ceremony at the Elysée Palace in Paris.

1929 Alexander Fleming successfully treated his assistant Stuart Craddick’s infection with a penicillin broth, at St Mary’s, Paddington.

1840 Sir Rowland Hill introduced the Penny Post to Britain. Mail was delivered at a standard charge rather than being paid by the recipient. On its first day, 112,000 letters were posted in London alone.