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7 Mar 1965: Police attack civil rights marchers in Alabama

State troopers assault demonstrators demanding better voting rights for black people.

• 3 mins

8 Mar 1978: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy debuts

The first instalment of Douglas Adams’ ground-breaking sci-fi series airs on radio.

• 3 mins

9 Mar 1959: Barbie unveiled at American Toy Fair

‘We tried not to make her too beautiful,’ says creator Ruth Handler.

• 2 mins

10 Mar 1973: British officials shot dead in Bermuda

The Governor of Bermuda and his assistant are killed in the British overseas territory.

• 2 mins

11 Mar 1990: Lithuania declares independence from USSR

The Baltic state leaves the Soviet empire after five decades.

• 2 mins

12 Mar 1994: C of E ordains first women priests in Bristol

The Archbishop of Canterbury appeals for church unity amid traditionalist objections.

• 2 mins

13 Mar 1930: Discovery of Pluto announced

An American observatory hails the discovery of a ninth planet in the solar system.

• 3 mins

14 Mar 1991: Birmingham Six freed after 16 years

‘The police told us from the start they knew we hadn't done it,’ says Paddy Hill.

• 3 mins

15 Mar 1990: Gorbachev elected first Soviet president

Mikhail Gorbachev promises drastic measures as he is sworn into the newly-created office.

• 2 mins

16 Mar 1976: Harold Wilson resigns as PM

The shock announcement comes after 13 years as Labour leader.

• 2 mins

17 Mar 1995: Gangster Ronnie Kray dies

The notorious gangland killer dies in hospital after 26 years in prison.

• 3 mins

18 Mar 1982: Judge halts ‘obscenity’ trial

The Attorney General drops charges of gross indecency against a National Theatre director

• 3 mins

19 Mar 2008: Sci-Fi writer Arthur C Clarke dies

The science fiction legend dies in his adopted home of Sri Lanka.

• 2 mins

20 Mar 1966: World Cup stolen

The solid gold Jules Rimet trophy is stolen while on exhibition in London.

• 3 mins

21 Mar 1984: EEC summit collapses over Thatcher rebate row

‘We are committed to Europe…but they too must remain committed to Britain.’

• 3 mins

22 Mar 1995: Cosmonaut achieves longest human spaceflight

Valeri Polyakov returns to earth after a record-breaking 437 days in space.

• 2 mins

23 Mar 1983: Reagan launches Cold War into space

The US president unveils plans to combat nuclear war in space.

• 3 mins

24 Mar 1989: Exxon Valdez creates oil slick disaster

An oil tanker runs aground off the Alaskan coast, releasing crude oil into the sea.

• 3 mins

25 Mar 1980: Britain will go to Moscow Olympics

The British Olympic Association votes to defy government requests not to attend the games.

• 2 mins

26 Mar 1973: Stock Exchange admits women

Women are allowed on the trading floor of the London Stock Exchange after 200 years.

• 3 mins

27 Mar 1989: Russian voters go to the polls

Indications point to Communist Party losses.

• 2 mins

28 Mar 1979: US nuclear leak causes alarm

Radioactive steam leaks from nuclear plant in Pennsylvania.

• 2 mins

29 Mar 1981: First London marathon takes place

Joint winners cross finish line hand-in-hand.

• 2 mins

30 Mar 1981: US President Reagan shot

Wounded President undergoes surgery after shooting in Washington.

• 2 mins

31 Mar 1990: Hundreds arrested at anti-poll tax demo

Demonstration results in violent clashes in London city centre.

• 3 mins

1 Apr 1957: ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ hoax report on spaghetti harvest

April fools prank claims bumper harvest for ‘spaghetti plant’.

• 3 mins

2 Apr 1982: Argentina invades Falklands

The Argentinian flag flies over Government House in capital Port Stanley.

• 2 mins

3 Apr 1993: Grand National ends in ‘shambles’

The world-famous horse race is declared void after a series of mishaps.

• 2 mins

4 Apr 1984: Greenham Common peace camp evicted

More than 30 people arrested as police remove women protesting against cruise missiles.

• 2 mins

5 Apr 1988: Guerrillas hijack Kuwait Airways jumbo jet

More than 100 passengers and crew are taken hostage on a flight to Kuwait.

• 3 mins