Defender in European Cup Run
Russell Osman strengthens Ipswich Town’s defence through the 1980–81 season, helping the team compete successfully in Europe while challenging for domestic honours.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1981 in Great Britain — Page 5
Explore 261 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1981.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1981
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 261 unique records.
261Unique records
5 of 7Page
34Named events on this page
36Named people on this page
11Places on this page
Other events (month unknown)
Demonstrations
Visits Brixton Police Station
Departure
Leaves Yes after the Drama tour and later joins Asia.
Diary of a Madman
Blizzard of Ozz release the Album, "Diary of a Madman"
Duran Duran
Duran Durans 1st album, "Duran Duran", is released
Economists' Budget Criticism
Defends the Government's economic strategy after 364 economists publicly criticise the fiscal tightening introduced in the 1981 Budget.
Economy of Great Britain
As Secretary of State for Energy, Lawson promotes greater competition and private-sector participation in energy, helping establish policies that precede later gas and electricity privatisations.
Economy of Great Britain
Alan Arthur Walters plays a major part in discussions that almost causes Geoffrey Howes monetary targets for sterling M3, the government's chosen measure, to be replaced by a purer variant, known as monetary base control.
Economy of Great Britain
Alan Arthur Walters was the first spell as Thatchers full-time economic adviser between 1981 and 1983, expands the frontiers of influence for public servants, and maintains the first Thatcher government's adherence to monetarism.
Economy of Great Britain
Through a sleight of hand, the extra revenue Walters wished to raise was secured by freezing income tax thresholds.
Election
Secures 40% Union votes & 30% for the Party & Constituencies for leadership elections
Election
Healey narrowly defeats Tony Benn for the Deputy Leadership.
Electricity Supply Preparation
The 1981 miners confrontation highlighted how stockpiles and generation capacity could influence industrial bargaining.
Escape to Victory
Stars in Escape to Victory
European Champions' Trophy Defence Ends
Brian Clough sees Nottingham Forest's attempt at a third consecutive European Cup end early in the 1980-81 competition. The setback follows an extraordinary run of two successive titles.
European Winning Squad Forward
Alan Brazil forms part of the Ipswich Town attacking group in the 1980–81 season when the club wins the UEFA Cup and contests the league title.
Evans Helps Maintain League Title Defence
Evans forms part of the hard-working Aston Villa defence that holds its nerve through the 1980–81 championship race.
Evolution from Space
Publishes Evolution from Space with Chandra Wickramasinghe, extending their panspermia arguments.
Excise Duty Increases
Raises excise duties sharply in the 1981 Budget as part of a fiscal tightening intended to support the Government's monetary strategy.
Experienced European Campaign Defender
Allan Hunter contributes his experience as a defender to Bobby Robson’s Ipswich Town squad during the club’s successful 1980–81 UEFA Cup campaign.
FA Cup
Spurs win the FA Cup for the sixth time, defeating Manchester City in a memorable replay.
Face Dances
The Who release Face Dances.
First Division Championship
Saunders leads Villa to its first league championship for seventy-one years.
Gang of Four
Faces the Labour split after leading moderates leave to create the Social Democratic Party.
Gang of Four
Forms the SDP with Shirley Williams, David Owen and Bill Rodgers.
Geddis Villa Attacking Depth
Geddis contributes to Aston Villa's first-team resources as Saunders navigates a successful championship campaign with a compact squad.
Gibson Championship Squad Member
Gibson provides additional options for Saunders's first-team group during Villa's historic First Division title season.
Hello America
Publication of "Hello America"
Hughes Medal
Shares the Royal Society Hughes Medal with Tom Kibble for contributions to theoretical physics.
Income Tax
Through a sleight of hand, the extra revenue Walters wished to raise was secured by freezing income tax thresholds
Introduction to American Studies
Bradbury coedited a collection introducing the interdisciplinary study of the United States.
Ipswich European Success Squad Member
Steve McCall is part of the Ipswich Town squad during the 1980–81 season, gaining experience in a side that finishes with the UEFA Cup trophy.
Ken Brown Takes Norwich Charge
Ken Brown became Norwich City manager in 1980 and oversaw a period that would include promotion and the club's second League Cup triumph.
Kendall Begins First Managerial Spell
Howard Kendall becomes Everton manager and starts assembling the squad that will deliver the club’s most successful modern period.
La Folie
Releases La Folie, the album that includes Golden Brown.
League Championship Captaincy
Mortimer captains Aston Villa to the First Division championship.
London Docklands Development Corporation
Advances the London Docklands Development Corporation, giving a dedicated development body substantial planning and land powers to accelerate regeneration.
Love
Releases the album Love Is Only Feeling
Magazine
Simons replacement, Ben Mandelson, is on hand for Magazines final original album, Magic, Murder and the Weather. Devoto leaves the band, more or less ending the band since it was so closely identified with him
Magazine
Simons replacement, Ben Mandelson, is on hand for Magazines final original album, Magic, Murder and the Weather
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.