NHS Breast Screening Government
The Conservative Party Government is in office as this NHS milestone occurs: Free breast screening is introduced for women over 50.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1988 in Great Britain — Page 3
Explore 113 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1988.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1988
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 33 of 113 unique records.
113Unique records
3 of 3Page
31Named events on this page
24Named people on this page
7Places on this page
Other events (month unknown)
NHS Breast Screening NHS Development
This NHS development occurs while Margaret Hilda Thatcher serves as Prime Minister: Free breast screening is introduced for women over 50.
Opel
An album of previously unreleased material, "Opel," is released
Party Leader
Appointed Leader of the Social and Liberal Democrat Peers in the Lords
Player of the Year
Barnes receives the writers award in his first Liverpool season as his pace, close control and attacking creativity illuminate the team’s league campaign.
Player of the Year
Named as the Barclays Young Player of the Year
Privatization
British Steel is sold for œ2,500 million
Promotion to First Division
Taylor leads Villa back to the top division at the first attempt.
Reform of Government
Introduces GP budgets for patients with non critical conditions. Introduces a system for money to follow patients
Reform of Legal System
The Employment Act gives union members the right not to strike. The Employment Act gives union members the right not to be disciplined by their unions. The Employment Act gives union members access to accounts. The DHSS is split into the Health & Social Security Departments. Criminal Justice Act, the Attorney General to appeal against Crown Court sentences
Reform of Taxation
Inheritance Tax is reformed so that transfers above the threshold are generally charged at a single 40 percent rate.
Retirement
Leaves showbusiness to open an antique shop near his Oxfordshire home
Roll With It
Releases "Roll With It", US no 1 Album
Royal Navy Trident
The Royal Navy prepares for the transition from Polaris submarines to Vanguard class Trident submarines
Royal Society of Literature
Begins serving as President of the Royal Society of Literature.
Second Division Promotion Midfielder
David Platt contributed energetic midfield performances as Aston Villa secured promotion to the First Division under Graham Taylor.
Secretary of State for Health
Appointed Secretary of State for Health
Serious Money Political Satire
Caryl Churchill's Serious Money won recognition for its depiction of financial speculation and greed in London markets.
SFO
The Serious Fraud Office is established in 1988 under powers created by the Criminal Justice Act 1987 to investigate and prosecute serious or complex fraud.
Shadow Minister
Appointed Member of Shadow Cabinet, Shadow Energy Secretary
Speech
Makes her Bruges speech in which she recalls how Britain stood alone in 1940
Stewart Robson Claims West Ham Supporters Award
Stewart Robson receives the Hammer of the Year honour following a season in which his midfield influence wins recognition from supporters.
Sur la Mer
Produces Sur la Mer for the Moody Blues, continuing their late-1980s studio period.
TECs
Establishes TECs & decentralizes training & increases employer input
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
Stars in Terry Gilliams The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
The Modern World Writers
Bradbury published The Modern World, discussing ten major writers of modern literature.
The Travelling Wilburys Volume 1
Releases album, "The Travelling Wilburys Volume 1"
Toby Award Phantom Actor
Michael Crawford won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for creating the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway.
Transfer
Joins Queens Park Rangers
Transfer
Signs for Spurs, who pay Newcastle a fee of œ2.3 million, a British transfer record
Unsent Letters Humour
Bradbury published Unsent Letters, a collection of comic letters and reflections.
Whip
Appointed Government Whip
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Stars in Who Framed Roger Rabbit
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.