THE BIG STORYAmerican singer Frank Sinatra died from a heart attack on May 14 aged 82. The veteran performer, born Francis Albert Sinatra, was an institution during his own lifetime.
His funeral on May 19 was attended by some
of the biggest names in showbusiness including Liza Minnelli, Jack Lemon, Kirk Douglas, Gregory Peck, Mia Farrow and Tom Selleck.
The media were barred from his funeral and burial in Desert Memorial Park, Cathedral City.
An Oscar winner, he also received the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award which may be bestowed by the United States Congress.
A member of the infamous Rat Pack, he was rarely out of the news. His musical career began in the early to mid-1940s and in 1953 he won an Oscar for best supporting actor in From Here to Eternity.
He signed with Capitol Records and released several critically acclaimed albums including In The Wee Small Hours, Songs for Swingin' Lovers, Come Fly with Me and Only the Lonely.
Sinatra turned 50 in 1965 and recorded September of My Years, Strangers in the Night and My Way.
He retired in 1971 but came out of retirement in 1973 and toured across the world before his death.
HEADLINESThe still controversial '2+' lane on Stanningley Road, Armley, came into force at a cost of £155,000. Also called the 'high occupancy vehicle lane', it meant lone drivers who tried to use it could be fined £20.
Football star Paul Gascoigne's biggest worry was the possibility of a recurring ankle injury as he prepared for a World Cup warm-up match against Morocco in Casablanca. The former England star had turned 31 on May 27 and was part of team coach Glen Hoddle's line-up.
Men's magazine FHM was in hot water after it released a series of X-rated TV commercials featuring some of the lads' mags' favourite cover girls.
Yorkshire soap Emmerdale got a slap on the wrist from the Independent Television Commission for it's "aggressive approach", in particular an episode screened in July the previous year when Butch Dingle used a knife to threaten Sophie, the Tate nanny.
You could bag yourself a snazzy Motorola mr201 mobile phone for £129.99. The all-black number came with 30 minutes of free 'talk-time' and calls at 29p per minute.
The late comedian Bob Hope received an honourary knighthood. The London-born entertainer, then 94, had a long history of entertaining British troops serving abroad. The award trumped the honourary CBE he received in 1976.
THE GOSSIPSinger George Michael was met by a crowd of photographers as he returned to the UK for the first time since he was charged with lewd conduct in America. The former Wham! star was arrested by a plain-clothes policeman after being caught engaging in an indecent act in a public toilet in Los Angeles in April and shortly afterwards admitted he was gay.
Heartbeat star Nick Berry was lured back to the BBC to play the harbourmaster in a new drama Harbour Lights. The former Eastenders star was one of the most popular actors on TV at the time.
Spice Girl Mel B announced she was to wed dancer Jimmy Gulzar. The Leeds-born pop star got engaged to the backing dancer after a seven week whirlwind romance.
Deep Impact broke box office records with its story about a meteor which crashes into the earth, causing armageddon. Dan Ackroyd attempted to rekindle his career with a sequel to the cult classic Blues Brothers, the critically-panned Blues Brothers 2000.
Model Emma Noble caused a stir as she arrived at the Bafta Awards in a see-through dress. The former The Price is Right hostess was married to James Major, son of former PM John Major at the time.
THE WORLDSex change model/singer Dana International won the Eurovision Song Contest when the competition was held in Birmingham.
On May 11, India detonated three underground nuclear tests in Pokhran, including one thermonuclear device. On May 28, neighbouring Pakistan set off five nuclear devices of its own in the Chaghai hills of Baluchistan, prompting the United States, Japan and other nations to impose economic sanctions.
AND FINALLYOn May 26, aged just 23, Bear Grylls became the youngest British climber to scale the top of Mount Everest.
The full article contains 749 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
