1979 in Scotland explained

Events from the year 1979 in Scotland.

Incumbents

• Secretary of State for Scotland and Keeper of the Great Seal – Bruce Millan until 4 May; then George Younger

Law officers

• Lord Advocate – Ronald King Murray; then Lord Mackay of Clashfern
• Solicitor General for Scotland – Lord McCluskey; then Nicholas Fairbairn

Judiciary

• Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General – Lord Emslie
• Lord Justice Clerk – Lord Wheatley
• Chairman of the Scottish Land Court – Lord Elliott

Events

• 1 March – Scottish devolution referendum: Scotland votes by a majority of 77,437 for a Scottish Assembly, which is not implemented at this time due to a condition that at least 40% of the electorate must support the proposal.
• 17 March – Penmanshiel Tunnel collapses during reconstruction, killing two workers. A replacement tunnel opens to rail traffic on 20 August.
• 12 April – Cromarty Bridge opens.
• 16 April – Paisley Gilmour Street rail accident: Seven killed in a head-on collision.
• 4 May – UK general election: The Labour Party wins the majority of seats in Scotland but the Conservatives win by a 43-seat majority across the UK as a whole, with Margaret Thatcher becoming the first female Prime Minister. George Younger is appointed Secretary of State for Scotland, an office he will hold until January 1986.
• 7 June – the first election is held for the European Parliament, with the Conservatives winning five, Labour winning two and the Scottish National Party winning one of the 8 seats available in Scotland.^[1]
• 12 June – the Tayberry is patented.^[2]
• 8 September – Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. set a new UK transfer record by paying just under £1,500,000 for Glasgow-born Aston Villa and Scotland striker Andy Gray.^[3]
• Property on Raasay is sold to the Highlands and Islands Development Board.

Births

• 23 January – Dawn O'Porter, née Porter, television presenter and novelist
• 2 February – David Paisley, actor
• 15 February
  • Scott Severin, footballer
  • Gordon Shedden, racing driver
• 22 February – Claire Johnston, lawn bowler^[4]
  • • 20 April Gregor Tait, swimmer
  • Ruth Connell, actress and producer
• 21 April – James McAvoy, actor^[5]
• 11 May – Tim Baillie, slalom canoer
• 15 May – James Mackenzie, actor and television presenter
• 9 June – Fraser Watts, cricketer
• 20 June – Julie Fowlis, folk singer
• 31 August – Simon Neil, singer-songwriter
• 23 December – Kenny Miller, association football player

Deaths

• 24 February – Sir James Hutchison, 1st Baronet, shipbuilder, army officer and politician (born 1893)
• 16 September – Marion Cameron Gray, mathematician (born 1902)^[6]
• 27 September – Jimmy McCulloch, musician (born 1953)

The arts

• Alternative rock trio Cocteau Twins is formed in Grangemouth.
• National Youth Orchestra of Scotland is formed.
• Pier Arts Centre established in Stromness to display the collection of modern British art donated by Margaret Gardiner.

See also

• 1979 in Northern Ireland

Notes and References

1. Web site: The European Elections in 1979 . europarl.org . https://web.archive.org/web/20110927093148/http://www.europarl.org.uk/section/1979-figures/european-elections-1979 . 27 September 2011.
2. Web site: Tayberry. Patent. 1979. 2014-08-25.
3. Web site: Buchanan signs on for a Danish manager. The Herald. Glasgow. 8 September 1979. 2011-09-22.
4. Web site: Claire Johnston . Team Scotland . 11 March 2021 . en.
5. Web site: James McAvoy · BIFA · British Independent Film Awards . BIFA · British Independent Film Awards . 8 September 2022 . 12 October 2018.
6. Book: Green. Judy. LaDuke. Jeanne. Pioneering Women in American Mathematics: The Pre-1940 PhD's. 2009. American Mathematical Soc.. 9780821843765. Pioneering Women in American Mathematics . p. 186. en.