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Retro: March: 1982 - Britain sets sail for war
THE BIG STORY - Trouble was brewing in the South Atlantic. Argentina invaded the British-owned Falkland Islands, set up camp and hoisted their national flag some time around March 15.
Foreign Secretary Lord Carrington said the matter was a grave infringement of British sovereignty and demanded a full report from the Argentinian government.
It turned out that a group of about 60 Argentinians, posing as scrap metal collectors, had "invaded" one island and hoisted a flag. While most left under protest from Britain, some remained.
Just over a week later, Britain sent a gunboat, the Royal Navy's Endurance, to the South Atlantic to deal with the "invaders".
The situation escalated as the Argentinian government refused to back down.
Just over two weeks later, the UK went to war with Argentina over ownership of the disputed islands.
The war lasted 74 days and around 250 British and 650 Argentinian service personnel.
The war helped boost the popularity of then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, assisting her to victory in the 1983 General Election.
The ownership of the Falkland Islands, which lie about 400 miles off the coast of Argentina, have long been disputed by Argentina.
Historically, the islands are part of the British Empire but Argentina maintains a claim on them to this day.
THE HEADLINES
The Prince and Princess of Wales came to Yorkshire amid a flurry of pomp and ceremony. They landed in the royal jet at Yeadon Airport. They had come to Yorkshire to visit St Gemma's Hospice and to meet members of various clubs and social organisations which had received money from the Prince's Trust. The YEP printed a full page picture showing the couple holding hands and staring lovingly into one another's eyes, to commemorate the visit. l Yorkshire cricket firebrand Geoff Boycott hit the headlines after taking England on a tour of South Africa. Sports minister Neil McFarlane blasted the decision to let the tour go ahead as irresponsible, given the country's policy of apartheid.
People queued for three hours to get tickets for the Russell Harty chat show, which was due to be broadcast from Harrogate's Conference Centre. The 1,100 tickets were snapped up in less than 15 minutes. The show included the final of the Glamorous Grandmother competition, heats having taken place at Butlin's holiday camps the previous summer.
Shows on TV included One Man and His Dog (sheepdog trials), The Waltons, Max Bygraves – Side by Side with Eric Sykes, Taxi and John Craven's Newsround.
Petrol prices dropped to 1.34 for a gallon of two-star and 1.38 for a gallon of four-star – about 30p a litre
Films on at the cinema included: Private Benjamin, starring Goldie Hawn, and Blake Edwards' 10, Death Wish II, starring Charles Bronson, while Paul Newman and Sally Field starred in Absence of Malice.
Esther Rantzen signed a three-year deal with the BBC to make more That's Life programmes.
A YEP phone poll recorded a massive 'yes' vote in favour of canings at schools, with 80 per cent backing the measure. The poll followed EU legislation, which made corporal punishment in schools illegal.
The Government announced plans to introduce a new type of exam for high school pupils, to replace the 16+. The new 17+ would better cater for children, said then education under secretary William Shelton. In the event, GCSEs were brought in four years later.
Hundreds of twins in Leeds were taking part in "think pill" trials, organised by Leeds University lecturer Dr Wilfred Hume, who said: "There is already evidence people can be taught to rid themselves of certain symptoms which can cause serious illness. I will be looking at whether people's ability to learn these techniques is hereditary. That's where the twins can help." He added: "I don't think the time is too far distant when people will be able to use the power of their minds to improve their health in many ways."
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was said to be pleased that inflation had fallen for the first time in six months, from 12 per cent to 11 per cent. It also brought an end to the rise in the cost of living, the first such hiatus in 12 years. Unemployment also dropped below 3m.
THE GOSSIP
Harry H Corbett, pictured above on the right, star of Steptoe and Son, died from a heart attack aged 57. The news came on the day Alfred Bramble, who played his father in the popular sit-com, celebrated his 70th birthday. Corbett played Harold, the long-suffering son to Alfred's "dirty old man".
BBC TV news reader Jan Leaming was announced as presenter of the 27th Eurovision Song Contest, set to take place in April. Jan had been voted newsreader of the year in 1981. She planned to read the results in English and French.
John Belushi died aged 33. The talented actor was found dead in a rented hotel bungalow in the Hollywood hills. At the time it was reported he had died from natural causes, although it later turned out The Blues Brothers star suffered a massive drugs overdose.
Late comedian Frankie Howerd, star of Up Pompeii, turned 60.
THE WORLD
The 54th Academy Awards, hosted by Johnny Carson, were held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California. Chariots of Fire won Best Picture and three other Academy Awards.
AND FINALLY...
US pop group The Stylistics returned to their Leeds hotel, the Dragonara, to find they had been burgled. The 14-strong band had rented 12 rooms at the hotel while playing at Batley's Frontier nightclub. Rhythm guitarist George Overton confronted the thief but mistook him for a plumber who had come to fix a sink. The thief stole $300 and 140, plus some trumpets.
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Weather for Leeds
Thursday 24 May 2012
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