Arrest of John Collins
Arrested with 800 others during a CND march in London
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1961 in Great Britain — Page 2
Explore 154 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1961.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1961
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 154 unique records.
154Unique records
2 of 4Page
25Named events on this page
26Named people on this page
6Places on this page
September
Arrest of John Osborne
Arrested with 800 others during a CND march in Londond
Arrest of Venessa Redgrave
Arrested with 800 others during a CND march in London
Demonstrations
Arrested with 800 others during a CND march in London
Amnesty International
The leadership decide that the Amnesty appeal would form the basis of a permanent organisation, which on 30 September 1962 is officially named "Amnesty International"
October
Labour Party Conference
Addresses the Labour Party conference while serving as National Executive Committee chairman.
Beatles, The
Brian Epstein learns of the existence of The Beatles
November
Beatles, The
Local record store manager Brian Epstein is introduced to the Beatles, he signs a contract to manage them
Beatles, The
Local record store manager Brian Epstein is introduced to the Beatles, he signs a contract to manage them
Commonwealth
The Government introduces a Bill to reduce Commonwealth Immigration. Commonwealth Immigrants must have a job to come or have useful qualifications
Reform of Immigration Law
The Government introduces a Bill to reduce Commonwealth Immigration. Commonwealth Immigrants must have a job to come or have useful qualifications
Colonial Affairs
Healey moves to a new shadow secretary role as Labour reorganises its front bench.
Shadow Cabinet
Healey continues as a Labour shadow secretary of state before taking the defence portfolio.
Beatles, The
Brian Epstein sees the Beatles at the Cavern for the first time
Beatles, The
Local record store manager Brian Epstein is introduced to the Beatles, he signs a contract to manage them
Cavern Club
Brian Epstein sees the Beatles at the Cavern for the first time
Cavern Club
Sees the Beatles perform at the Cavern Club for the first time.
Birth of Frank Bruno
Birth of Frank Bruno
December
Beatles Management
first meets the Beatles in a record store
Beatles, The
Brian Epstein invites The Beatles to his shop and offers to manage them
Beatles, The
Brian Epstein invites The Beatles to his shop and offers to manage them
Beatles, The
Brian Epstein invites The Beatles to his shop and offers to manage them
Shadow Foreign Secretary
Appointed Shadow Foreign Secretary after changes to Labour's front-bench team.
Beatles, The
The Beatles are driven to London by their road manager, Neil Aspinall, and audition the next day for Decca Records, who reject them
Other events (month unknown)
Birth of Nicholas Lyndhurst
Birth of Nicholas Lyndhurst
1961 FA Cup Final Second Goal
Scores Tottenham's second goal against Leicester City to complete the Double.
1st 100 Pounds Per Week
Becomes the first player to be paid pounds 100 a week, immediately following the abolition of the pounds 20 maximum wage
AC Milan Serie A Introduction
Greaves played briefly for AC Milan and scored regularly in Italy, but he found life abroad difficult and sought a return to England.
Academy Award
Laurel is given a Lifetime Achievement Academy Award for his pioneering work in comedy
Ambassador
Appointed Ambassador of USA
Amnesty International
Benenson has a book published, "Persecution" , which details the cases of several prisoners of conscience investigated and compiled by Benenson and Baker
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is born from Peter Benensons long history of communist party support that had begun at Eton during the Spanish Civil War, where he organized aid for Basque Orphanages and became radicalised in favour of the Republicans
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is founded by Peter Benenson, an English lawyer who had converted to Roman Catholicism in 1958. Founds Amnesty International for political prisoners.
Amnesty International
Benenson and his friend Alec Digges, an Irish communist, members of the International Brigade Association at the same address (2 Parton Street WC1, London) take control of the Amnesty shell.
Amnesty International
Benenson has a book published, "Persecution" , which details the cases of several prisoners of conscience investigated and compiled by Benenson and Baker.
Amnesty International
Appointed Chairman of Amnesty International
Arrest of Bertrand Russell
Arrested for inciting a breach of the peace
Blanchflower Spurs Captain Welcomes Greaves
Blanchflower organised Tottenham's attacking play with incisive passes as Greaves joined the side from AC Milan.
Blues Incorporated
The group includes, at various times, such influential musicians as Charlie Watts, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, Long John Baldry, Graham Bond, Danny Thompson and Dick Heckstall-Smith. Korner and Davies form Blues Incorporated, initially a loose-knit group of musicians with a shared love of electric blues and R&B music
Charlton Prolific Division Two Season
Saunders maintains an exceptional goalscoring rate for Charlton Athletic while playing in the Second Division.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.