South Africa Mission Announcement
Announces plans for a European Community diplomatic mission to southern Africa following discussions at the European Council in The Hague.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1986 in Great Britain — Page 2
Explore 172 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1986.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1986
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 172 unique records.
172Unique records
2 of 5Page
32Named events on this page
26Named people on this page
12Places on this page
July
Pretoria Discussions
Holds discussions with South African ministers in Pretoria as part of a European Community-backed diplomatic mission.
Southern Africa Diplomatic Mission
Travels in southern Africa on a European Community mission seeking political movement on apartheid and regional security.
August
Birmingham Superprix
Birmingham hosts its first Formula 3000 street race on roads near the city centre.
September
Minister of Social Security
Appointed Minister of Social Security
October
Discovery of Cruithne
Cruithne is discovered by Duncan Waldron on a photographic plate taken with the UK Schmidt Telescope at Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, Australia. Cruithne and Earth appear to "follow" each other in their paths around the Sun, this is why Cruithne is sometimes called "Earths second moon", however, it does not orbit the Earth and is not a moon
Double O Charity
Dave Gilmour appears on The Tube to help promote Pete Townshends Double O Charity
Visit to Beijing
Begins 7 day Royal visit to China at Peking
Big Bang
London securities markets implement the Big Bang reforms on 27 October 1986, abolishing fixed commissions and changing traditional Stock Exchange ownership and dealing practices.
South Africa Policy Report
Reports that his Pretoria mission had conveyed positions supported by the European Community, Commonwealth and United States on political reform in South Africa.
November
Manager
Appointed Manager of Manchester United
Pink Floyd
A press statement is issued stating that Pink Floyd intend to continue using the name without Roger Waters and are recording their next album
Pink Floyd
A press statement is issued stating that Pink Floyd intend to continue using the name without Roger Waters and are recording their next album
Think Visual
The Kinks release Think Visual.
Death of Cary Grant
Death of Cary Grant
December
British Gas Privatisation
British Gas shares begin trading on 8 December 1986 following the Government's large public privatisation offer.
Other events (month unknown)
A Room With A View
Appears in A Room With A View
Academy Award
Winner of the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in Hannah and Her Sisters
ADION Medal
Hoyle received the ADION Medal for his astronomical work.
Always the Sun
Releases Always the Sun, one of the band's most enduring later singles.
Arrival from West Bromwich Albion
Signs for Wolves from West Bromwich Albion and begins a thirteen-year spell that makes him the club’s record goalscorer.
Bachelor of Civil Law Degree
Starmer completes postgraduate legal studies at the University of Oxford.
Big Audio Dynamite
Strummer collaborates with ex-bandmate Mick Jones on BADs second album, No. 10 Upping St., co-producing the album and co-writing seven of its songs. For Big Audio Dynamites second album, No. 10 Upping St., Jones reunited with Strummer, together, the two write several songs on the album, including "Beyond the Pale", "V. Thirteen", and "Sightsee M.C."; Strummer also co-produces the album
Big Audio Dynamite
For Big Audio Dynamites second album, No. 10 Upping St., Jones reunited with Strummer, together, the two write several songs on the album, including "Beyond the Pale", "V. Thirteen", and "Sightsee M.C."; Strummer also co-produces the album
Big Audio Dynamite
Strummer collaborates with ex-bandmate Mick Jones on BADs second album, No. 10 Upping St., co-producing the album and co-writing seven of its songs
Big Time
Gabriel achieves his greatest popularity with th So album, highlights being "Sledgehammer" (a #1 smash in the US, knocking Genesiss Invisible Touch off of the top spot), "Big Time" & "Dont Give Up" with Kate Bush
Booker Prize
Winner of the Booker Prize
British Council and the Arts Study
Hoggart contributed to British Council and the Arts, a study of cultural relations and public institutions.
Budget
Lawson continues the reduction of the standard rate of personal income tax, building on the cut introduced in Geoffrey Howe's 1979 Budget.
Budget
The 1986 Budget combines measures to widen individual share ownership, increase support for charities and alter personal taxation.
Budget
The 1986 Budget cuts the basic rate of income tax by one percentage point.
Budget
The 1986 Budget introduces Personal Equity Plans to encourage individuals to invest in shares.
Budget
Nigel Lawson presents the 1986 Budget to the House of Commons as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Budget Policy
The 1986 Budget under Nigel Lawson sets out the Government's taxation, expenditure and borrowing plans.
Caravaggio
Appears in Derek Jarman's Caravaggio, beginning a long creative association with the filmmaker.
Clash
The Clash effectively disband in early 1986
Clash
The Clash effectively disband in early 1986
Coal Board Leadership Ends
Ian MacGregor left the National Coal Board after overseeing the industry through the yearlong miners strike.
Cocker Album
Releases the studio album Cocker.
Conference of Conservatives
Organizes the conference prior to the 1987 election victory
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.