1979 in Scotland
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| See also: | List of years in Scotland Timeline of Scottish history 1979 in: The UK • England • Wales • Elsewhere Scottish football: 1978–79 • 1979–80 1979 in Scottish television | ||||
Events from the year 1979 in Scotland.
Incumbents
- Secretary of State for Scotland and Keeper of the Great Seal – Bruce Millan until 4 May; then George Younger
Law officers
- Lord Advocate – Ronald King Murray; then Lord Mackay of Clashfern
- Solicitor General for Scotland – Lord McCluskey; then Nicholas Fairbairn
Judiciary
- Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General – Lord Emslie
- Lord Justice Clerk – Lord Wheatley
- Chairman of the Scottish Land Court – Lord Elliott
Events
- 1 March – Scottish devolution referendum: Scotland votes by a majority of 77,437 for a Scottish Assembly, which is not implemented at this time due to a condition that at least 40% of the electorate must support the proposal.
- 17 March – Penmanshiel Tunnel collapses during reconstruction, killing two workers. A replacement tunnel opens to rail traffic on 20 August.
- 12 April – Cromarty Bridge opens.
- 16 April – Paisley Gilmour Street rail accident: Seven killed in a head-on collision.
- 4 May – UK general election: The Labour Party wins the majority of seats in Scotland but the Conservatives win by a 43-seat majority across the UK as a whole, with Margaret Thatcher becoming the first female Prime Minister. George Younger is appointed Secretary of State for Scotland, an office he will hold until January 1986.
- 7 June – the first election is held for the European Parliament, with the Conservatives winning five, Labour winning two and the Scottish National Party winning one of the 8 seats available in Scotland.[1]
- 12 June – the Tayberry is patented.[2]
- 8 September – Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. set a new UK transfer record by paying just under £1,500,000 for Glasgow-born Aston Villa and Scotland striker Andy Gray.[3]
- Property on Raasay is sold to the Highlands and Islands Development Board.
Births
- 23 January – Dawn O'Porter, née Porter, television presenter and novelist
- 2 February – David Paisley, actor
- 15 February
- Scott Severin, footballer
- Gordon Shedden, racing driver
- 22 February – Claire Johnston, lawn bowler[4]
- 20 April
- Gregor Tait, swimmer
- Ruth Connell, actress and producer
- 21 April – James McAvoy, actor[5]
- 11 May – Tim Baillie, slalom canoer
- 15 May – James Mackenzie, actor and television presenter
- 9 June – Fraser Watts, cricketer
- 20 June – Julie Fowlis, folk singer
- 31 August – Simon Neil, singer-songwriter
- 23 December – Kenny Miller, association football player
Deaths
- 24 February – Sir James Hutchison, 1st Baronet, shipbuilder, army officer and politician (born 1893)
- 16 September – Marion Cameron Gray, mathematician (born 1902)[6]
- 27 September – Jimmy McCulloch, musician (born 1953)
The arts
- Alternative rock trio Cocteau Twins is formed in Grangemouth.
- National Youth Orchestra of Scotland is formed.
- Pier Arts Centre established in Stromness to display the collection of modern British art donated by Margaret Gardiner.
See also
References
- ^ "The European Elections in 1979". europarl.org. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011.
- ^ "Tayberry". Patent. 1979. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ^ "Buchanan signs on for a Danish manager". The Herald. Glasgow. 8 September 1979. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
- ^ "Claire Johnston". Team Scotland. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ "James McAvoy · BIFA · British Independent Film Awards". BIFA · British Independent Film Awards. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
- ^ Green, Judy; LaDuke, Jeanne (2009). Pioneering Women in American Mathematics: The Pre-1940 PhD's. American Mathematical Soc. p. 186. ISBN 9780821843765.