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| 1st Channel Crossing Allen, Bryan |  |
| 12th June Pedals the flying "Gossamer Albatross" over the English Channel |
| 1st Million Pound Footballer Clough, Brian | |
| 9th Feb Clough signs the 24-year-old Birmingham City FC striker Trevor Francis - Britain's first œ1 million footballer |
| 1st Million Pound Footballer Francis, Trevor | |
| 1st Feb Clough signs the 24-year-old Birmingham City FC striker Trevor Francis - Britain's first œ1 million footballer |
| Assassination of Mountbatten Thatcher, Margaret Hilda | |
| 29th Aug Belfast Visits the people of Belfast after the assassination of Lord Mountbatten & 18 soldiers |
| Assassination of Neave Neave, Airey | |
| 30th Mar London Killed by a car bomb in the House of Commons |
| Budget Thatcher, Margaret Hilda | |
| 21st June Strasbourg Attends the European Council & forwards the case for reducing Britain's contributions |
| Bundesliga Championship Keegan, Joseph Kevin | |
| Hamburger SV win the Bundesliga title for the first time in its history in the 1978-79 season, with Keegan's unflinching commitment proving decisive |
| Buzzcocks Shelley, Pete | |
| The Buzzcocks release "A Different Kind of Tension" |
| Chancellor Howe, Geoffrey | |
| 5th May London Appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer |
| Chief Secretary Biffen, John | |
| London Appointed Chief Secretary to the Treasury |
| Composition of Clash, The Strummer, Joe | |
| The Clash release London Calling, Rolling Stone magazine declared it the best album of the 1980s & place it at #8 on their list in 2003 of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time |
| Composition of Dury Dury, Ian | |
| Managed by Andrew King, Ian Dury has several hits with "What a Waste" & "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick", no 1 in the UK |
| Records the rock & roll anthem "Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll", often credited with introducing the phrase to the language |
| Composition of Dury King, Andrew | |
| Managed by Andrew King, Ian Dury has several hits with "What a Waste" & "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick", no 1 in the UK |
| Composition of Gouldman Gouldman, Graham | |
| Gouldman scores a minor hit with his single "Sunburn", written for the Farrah Fawcett/Charles Grodin film of the same name |
| Composition of Led Zeppelin Plant, Robert Anthony | |
| Karac's death inspires Plant to write the song "All My Love" in tribute, features on Led Zeppelin's final studio LP, "In Through the Out Door" |
| Composition of Public Image Ltd Rotten, Johnny | |
| Public Image Ltd record the post punk classic "Metal Box" |
| Conference of Commonwealth Thatcher, Margaret Hilda | |
| 1st Aug Lusaka 1-8 August, attends the Commonwealth Prime Minister's Conference at Lusaka |
| 1st Aug Lusaka 1st Commonwealth Conference to be held in Africa, Rhodes ia is the main subject |
| Conference of Guadeloupe Callaghan, James | |
| Jan Attends an economic conference at Guadeloupe |
| Conference of Lancaster House Carrington, Peter Alexander Rupert | |
| London Carrington chairs the Lancaster House conference |
| Death of Neave, Airey Neave, Airey | |
| 30th Mar London Death of Airey Neave, assassinated |
| Death of Vicious, Syd Vicious, Sid | |
| 2nd Feb Death of Sid Vicious , of a heroin overdose after a party held to celebrate his release on bail |
| Dismissal Osbourne, John Michael "Ozzy" | |
| Leaves Black Sabbath for a 2nd time |
| Dismissal Wright, Rick | |
| Sep Rick Wright is dropped from the Pink Floyd Partnership during final sessions for "The Wall", the move is Waters idea but he is backed by Gilmour |
| Economy Callaghan, James | |
| 11th Jan Misquoted in the press saying, "Crisis, what crisis?", returning from Guadaloupe |
| Election Callaghan, James | |
| 28th Mar London Forced to call a general election |
| 28th Mar London The Government loses a confidence motion by 1 vote |
| 3rd May The Labour Party lose the election after a 7% swing to the Conservatives |
| 3rd May The Labour Party win 36.9% of votes cast & 269 MPs |
| Election Field, Frank | |
| Birkenhead Elected Member of Parliament for Birkenhead |
| Election Major, John Roy | |
| 3rd May Huntingdon Elected Member of Parliament for Huntingdon, majority of 21,563 |
| Election Steel, David | |
| 3rd May The Liberals win 13.8% votes cast & 11 MPs |
| Election Straw, Jack | |
| Blackburn Elected Member of Parliament for Blackburn |
| Election Thatcher, Margaret Hilda | |
| London 1st EC elections take place, using 1st-past-the-post system |
| May Enters no 10 quoting St Francis , "where there is discord, may we bring harmony" |
| 3rd May Conservatives 339, Labour 268, Liberals 11, others 18 |
| 3rd May The Conservatives win a majority of 45 |
| European Footballer of the Year Keegan, Joseph Kevin | |
| Named European Footballer of the Year, 2nd time |
| Film of Sellers Sellars, Peter | |
| "Being There", based on the Jerzy Kosinski novel he cherished, which earns Sellers his best critical reviews since the 1960s, a second Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe award |
| Stars in "The Prisoner of Zenda" |
| Film of Who, The Townshend, Pete | |
| The Who release a documentary film called The Kids Are Alright and a film version of Quadrophenia |
| Golden Globe Award Sellars, Peter | |
| "Being There", based on the Jerzy Kosinski novel he cherished, which earns Sellers his best critical reviews since the 1960s, a second Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe award |
| International Debut Hoddle, Glenn | |
| Nov Full international debut against Bulgaria |
| Jam, The Weller, Paul | |
| London Album, "Setting Sons" |
| Nov "The Eton Rifles" breaks The Jam into the Top 10, hitting the No. 3 spot |
| Jnr Minister Rifkind Rifkind, Malcolm | |
| London Appointed Minister at the Scottish Office |
| Joy Division Curtis, Ian | |
| 13th Jan Curtis appears on the front cover of the NME due to the persistence of music journalist Paul Morley and that same month the band record their first radio session for BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel |
| April Stockport The band begin recording their debut album Unknown Pleasures at Strawberry Studios, producer Martin Hannett contributes significantly to the final sound |
| Joy Division Hannett, Martin | |
| April Stockport The band begin recording their debut album Unknown Pleasures at Strawberry Studios, producer Martin Hannett contributes significantly to the final sound |
| Joy Division Hook, Peter | |
| April Stockport The band begin recording their debut album Unknown Pleasures at Strawberry Studios, producer Martin Hannett contributes significantly to the final sound |
| Joy Division Peel, John | |
| 13th Jan Curtis appears on the front cover of the NME due to the persistence of music journalist Paul Morley and that same month the band record their first radio session for BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel |
| Joy Division Sumner, Bernard | |
| April Stockport The band begin recording their debut album Unknown Pleasures at Strawberry Studios, producer Martin Hannett contributes significantly to the final sound |
| Leader House of Lords Soames, Christopher | |
| London Appointed Leader of the House of Lords |
| League Cup Clough, Brian | |
| Forest retain the League Cup, but finish runners-up to Liverpool in the league |
| Lecture Dimbleby Jenkins, Roy | |
| Uses the Dimbleby Lecture to found the SDP & strengthen the "radical centre" |
| Lord Chancellor Hogg | |
| Appointed Lord Chancellor |
| Magazine Devoto, Howard | |
| Magazine release "Secondhand Daylight" |
| Magazine Simon, Robin | |
| McGeoch leaves Magazine, he is replaced by Robin Simon ( Ultravox) and the band then tour the USAand Australia |
| Minister of Agriculture Walker, Peter | |
| Appointed Minister of Agriculture |
| Minister of Education Carlisle, Mark | |
| Appointed Minister for Education |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs Carrington, Peter Alexander Rupert | |
| Appointed Foreign Minister |
| Minister of Trade Joseph | |
| Appointed Minister of Trade & Indus try |
| Party Leader Hume, John | |
| Appointed Party Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party |
| Pay Norm Callaghan, James | |
| Jan The pay norm in Cabinet is increased from 5% to 9.5% |
| Pay Norm Hattersley, Roy | |
| Jan Made a type of "pay supremo" to enforce the pay norm over his Cabinet colleagues |
| Pink Floyd Gilmour, Dave | |
| 16th Nov "Another Brick In The Wall Part II" is released, it goes straight to number one in the UK chart. It is the band's only number one |
| 30th Nov "The Wall" is finally released. |
| Pink Floyd Waters, Roger | |
| 16th Nov "Another Brick In The Wall Part II" is released, it goes straight to number one in the UK chart. It is the band's only number one |
| 30th Nov "The Wall" is finally released. |
| Pink Floyd Wright, Rick | |
| Sep Rick Wright is dropped from the Pink Floyd Partnership during final sessions for "The Wall", the move is Waters idea but he is backed by Gilmour |
| Political Adviser Ingham, Bernard | |
| Appointed Political Adviser to Margaret Thatcher |
| Price Commission Thatcher, Margaret Hilda | |
| 15th May London The Price Commission is abolished |
| Prime Minister Thatcher, Margaret Hilda | |
| 4th May London Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, 1st term |
| Privatization BT Joseph | |
| London Challenges British Telecom's monopoly by helping to create Mercury Communications |
| Publication of Benn Benn, Anthony Wedgewood | |
| Publication of, "Arguments for Socialism" |
| Reform of Exchange Controls Thatcher, Margaret Hilda | |
| 23rd Oct London Exchange controls are removed |
| Reform of Universities Carlisle, Mark | |
| Warns the University Grants Committee they must expect large cuts |
| SDP Jenkins, Roy | |
| Calls for a "radical centre" durng the BBC Dimbleby Lecture |
| Secretary Environment Heseltine, Michael | |
| London Appointed Secretary of the Environment, 1st term |
| Secretary Home Whitelaw, William | |
| 5th May London Appointed Home Secretary |
| Secretary Trade & Industry Nott, John | |
| London Appointed Secretary of State for Trade & Indus try |
| Security Ulster Thatcher, Margaret Hilda | |
| 24th Dec Ulster Visits the security services in Ulster |
| Sex Pistols Vicious, Sid | |
| Sid Vicious records a live album, "Sid Sings", backed by "The Idols" featuring Arthur Kane and Jerry Nolan of the New York Dolls |
| Shadow Education Secretary Kinnock, Neil | |
| Appointed Shadow Education Secretary |
| Speech Major Major, John Roy | |
| 13th June London Makes maiden speech in the House of Commons |
| Spokesman Education Field Field, Frank | |
| London Appointed Spokesman for Education |
| State of Emergency Callaghan, James | |
| Jan Callaghan wishes to declare a state of emergency but is over-ruled by his colleagues |
| Strike Local Authorities Callaghan, James | |
| Jan Local authority workers call for 8% |
| Strike Lorry Drivers Callaghan, James | |
| Jan Lorry drivers demand 20% |
| Strike Oil Tanker Drivers Callaghan, James | |
| Jan Oil tanker drivers accept 15% |
| Strike Railway Workers Callaghan, James | |
| Jan Railway workers want 10% bomus on top of their 20% wage demand |
| Strike Road Haulage Drives Callaghan, James | |
| Jan The road haulage drivers' dispute is made official by the TGWU |
| Strike Road Haulage Workers Callaghan, James | |
| Jan Cabinet decides to buy off the road haulage workers with a 20% increase |
| Strike Water Workers Callaghan, James | |
| Jan Water workers go on strike |
| Thin Lizzy Ure, Midge | |
| London Joins Thin Lizzy |
| Ultravox Ure, Midge | |
| Joins Ultravox |
| Vote Confidence Callaghan, James | |
| 28th Mar London The Government loses a confidence motion by 1 vote |
| World Record Coe, Sebastian Newbold | |
| 17th July Oslo Sebastian Coe runs world record 3:49 mile in Oslo |
