On This Day

December 17, 1903: The Wright Brothers make the first powered flight

It only lasted 12 seconds and got no higher than 10 feet off the ground, but the first powered flight by the Wright Flyer I made aviation history.

January

Concorde's first flight, the euro arrives and Britain wakes up to breakfast TV - notable January events and anniversaries

February

Nelson Mandela is free, Torvill and Dean win Olympic gold and Buddy Holly dies - historic happenings from February

March

The Queen Mother dies, the Miners' Strike ends and the Spitfire takes to the skies - memorable moments from March

April

Gagarin is the first man in space, Kurt Cobain commits suicide and Martin Luther King is shot - April's notable anniversaries

May

Everest is conquered, Ayrton Senna is killed and Margaret Thatcher is Britain's first female PM - May days from history

June

Jaws fever bites, the nation celebrates the Silver Jubilee and Wimbledon serves up its longest match - on this day in June

July

England beat West Germany to win the World Cup, Live Aid raises millions and rationing ends - July's historic days

August

Record summer temperatures, the start of the Berlin Wall and Pluto is demoted - August anniversaries to note

September

9/11 attacks shock the world, Ben Johnson is stripped of gold and Bobby's back in Dallas - September's days to remember

October

The Great Storm hits, the BT Tower opens and Concorde makes its final flight - memorable moments in October

November

BBC One goes colour, the National Lottery begins and Margaret Thatcher quits - notable November goings-on

December

Edwina sparks outrage, Edward VIII abdicates and Santa is tracked - December dates to remember

Royal events to remember

June 2, 1953: Millions watch on TV as Queen Elizabeth II is crowned at Westminster Abbey

June 7, 1977: Britons mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee with 12,000 street parties

July 29, 1981: Prince Charles marries Lady Diana in front of record global audience of 750 million

November 20, 1992: Queen faces huge repair bill as Windsor Castle is devastated by fire

Sporting anniversaries

February 25, 1964: Muhammad Ali becomes World Heavyweight Champion

February 7, 2005: Ellen MacArthur breaks round-the world sailing record

June 22, 1986: Maradona crushes England’s World Cup dreams with the Hand of God goal

Do you remember? August 4, 2012: Team GB strikes Olympic gold

Memorable musical moments

June 1, 1967: Beatles break new ground with release of Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

January 6, 1977: EMI fires the Sex Pistols after TV shame and airport anarchy

July 13, 1985: Live Aid concerts raise millions for famine relief in Africa

August 16, 1977: The King is Dead: Elvis Presley dies aged 42 in Memphis

Entertainment events through the years

December 27, 1977: Star Wars arrives in the UK – heralded by a wave of hype

September 10, 2001: We don't want to give you that, Who Wants to be a Millionaire bosses tell 'cheating major' Charles Ingram

April 20, 1964: Power cut pulls the plug on BBC2’s big launch night

June 20, 1975: Jaws hits cinemas and the summer movie blockbuster is born

Political milestones

January 20, 1961: John F. Kennedy inaugurated as youngest elected US president

March 17, 2003: Commons Leader Robin Cook resigns as Britain prepares for war with Iraq

May 12, 1994: John Smith's death leaves Britain mourning 'the best prime minister it never had'

May 4, 1979: Margaret Thatcher becomes the UK’s first woman Prime Minister

Key moments in transport history

December 1, 1990: Channel Tunnel breakthrough as British and French make undersea rendezvous

March 5, 1936: The Spitfire - the iconic fighter plane of the Battle of Britain - takes to the skies

July 21, 1969: Neil Armstrong takes 'giant leap for mankind' onto surface of the Moon

October 24, 2003: Britons look to the skies as Concorde makes its final commercial flight