2009 in the United Kingdom

none April 2014 July 2024 2009 Countries of the United Kingdom England Northern Ireland Scotland Wales Popular culture 2009 British Grand Prix 2009 English cricket season Football: England Scotland Wales 2009 in British television 2009 in British music 2009 in British radio UK in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 Events from the year 2009 in the United Kingdom. Incumbents Monarch – Elizabeth II Prime Minister – Gordon Brown (Labour) Events January 1 January – A British soldier from 6th Battalion The Rifles, later named by the Ministry of Defence as Sergeant Christopher Reed, is killed in an explosion in Southern Afghanistan. This takes the total number of British forces to die in the conflict to 138.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10629358 British military fatalities in Afghanistan BBC News 28 March 2010 2 January – Celebrity Big Brother returns to Channel 4 for the first time since 2007 following the racism controversy that dominated that year's show. Participants include La Toya Jackson, Verne Troyer and Ulrika Jonsson.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7807772.stm Stars enter Big Brother compound BBC News 2 January 2009 28 March 2010 5 January Cold weather consisting of snow and freezing temperatures causes widespread disruption across the UK. Travel routes are severely affected including roads and railways, in addition to Luton and Birmingham airports. The weather also leads to the closure of many schools which were due to return after the Christmas break.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7812861.stm Warnings issued amid Arctic chill BBC News 6 January 2009 28 March 2010 Waterford Wedgwood, makers of the famous Wedgwood pottery, enter administration.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7811048.stm Wedgwood goes into administration BBC News 5 January 2009 28 March 2010 6 January The cold weather affecting the UK continues to cause widespread disruption across the country. The continued freezing temperatures lead to millions of people becoming eligible for cold weather payments from the government.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7813987.stm Millions to get weather pay-outs BBC News 6 January 2009 28 March 2010 The closure of Woolworths is completed across the UK, having started at the end of December, spelling an end to 100 years of the retail chain. The company was placed into administration in November 2008, with its 813 stores gradually being phased out.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7811187.stm Final Woolworths stores shut down BBC News 6 January 2009 28 March 2010 More than 27,000 jobs have been lost as a result of the company's collapse.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7811187.stm BBC News Final Woolworths stores shut down 6 January 2009 13 November 2009 7 January Marks & Spencer announce they are to close 25 of their Simply Food stores and cut 1,230 jobs, after they announce pre-Christmas like-for-like sales fell by 7.1%.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7814987.stm M&S to close stores and cut jobs BBC News 7 January 2009 28 March 2010 England Cricket Captain, Kevin Pietersen resigns after months of rows with England manager, Peter Moores. Moores is sacked from his job by the England and Wales Cricket Board. Andrew Strauss is named as the new Captain.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/england/7815038.stm England captain Pietersen resigns BBC News 7 January 2009 28 March 2010 There is more bad news for the economy as new car sales for 2008 are reported to have fallen to a 12-year low of just over 2.1 million.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7814843.stm BBC News UK car sales fall to 12-year-low 7 January 2009 10 April 2011 8 January – The Bank of England cuts its base interest rate to 1.5% amid the global economic downturn, the lowest it has been in the bank's 300-year history.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7817453.stm Interest rates hit all-time low BBC News 8 January 2009 28 March 2010 11 January The News of the World reports that Prince Harry has been filmed using racist language towards a Pakistani member of his army platoon. Prince Harry swiftly apologises amid widespread condemnation.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7822574.stm Prince's apology for racist term BBC News 11 January 2009 28 March 2010 A Royal Marine from 45 Commando, later named by the Ministry of Defence as Marine Travis Mackin, is killed in an explosion in Southern Afghanistan. This takes the total number of British forces to die in the conflict to 139. 12 January – At the 66th Golden Globe Awards, British actress Kate Winslet wins two awards, Best Actress (Motion Picture Drama) and Best Supporting Actress (Motion Picture); while British film Slumdog Millionaire wins all four of the awards for which it was nominated.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7819919.stm Winslett and Slumdog sweep Globes BBC News 12 January 2009 28 March 2010 14 January The government unveils a £20 billion loan guarantee scheme for small and medium-sized business amid the Great Recession.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7827273.stm Small business loan plan unveiled BBC News 14 January 2009 28 March 2010 On the same day, Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, appoints former banker Mervyn Davies as the new Trade and Investment Minister.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7827876.stm Banker becomes business minister BBC News 14 January 2009 28 March 2010 Two British service personnel, a soldier from 29th Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, later named by the Ministry of Defence as Captain Tom Sawyer, and a marine from 45 Commando, later named as Marine Danny Winter, are killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan. This takes the total number of British forces to die in the conflict to 141. 15 January – Approval is granted for the building of the controversial third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow Airport. As part of the decision, the Secretary of State for Transport, Geoff Hoon, announces restrictions on aircraft using the third runway that are designed to limit noise pollution and carbon dioxide emissions, alongside proposals for a high-speed rail hub, also located at Heathrow.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7829676.stm Go-ahead for new Heathrow runway BBC News 15 January 2009 28 March 2010 John McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, the constituency which includes Heathrow Airport, is suspended from Parliament after picking up the ceremonial House of Commons mace in protest at the government's approval of a third runway.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7830937.stm MP suspended after mace protest BBC News 15 January 2009 28 March 2010 16 January – The Financial Services Authority lifts the ban on the short selling of stocks in UK financial sector companies.http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Library/Communication/PR/2009/001.shtml Financial Services Authority – FSA proposes to extend short selling disclosure regime Fsa.gov.uk 28 March 2010 3 December 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091203172644/http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Library/Communication/PR/2009/001.shtml dead https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7832486.stm UK bans on short-selling expires BBC News 16 January 2009 28 March 2010 17 January – A British soldier from 1st Battalion The Rifles, later named as Corporal Richard Robinson, is killed by enemy fire in southern Afghanistan. This takes the total number of British forces to die in the conflict to 142. 19 January Lloyds TSB completes the acquisition of the Halifax Bank of Scotland group, to form the Lloyds Banking Group.Lloyds Banking Group – Stock Market Statement – Acquisition https://web.archive.org/web/20090125143902/http://www.londonstockexchange.com/LSECWS/IFSPages/MarketNewsPopup.aspx?id=2070595 25 January 2009 The government announces further assistance for the banking sector, the second of the 2008 financial crisis. Measures announced include the government insuring bad debts and increasing its stake in Royal Bank of Scotland. The measures make little impact on the stock market, with banking stocks falling across the board.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7838347.stm UK banking plan faces criticism BBC News 19 January 2009 28 March 2010 The Royal Bank of Scotland announces it expects to have to write down assets totalling around £20 billion, believed to be the biggest loss in British corporate history. The announcement sees RBS' share price plunge 67% on the day.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7836882.stm RBS shares plunge on record loss BBC News 19 January 2009 28 March 2010 20 January – The Office for National Statistics announces that the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the UK's main measure of inflation, has fallen by 1% from 4.1% to 3.1% since November 2008. Over the same time period, the Retail Price Index, an alternative measure of inflation, fell by 2.1% from 3.0% to 0.9%, the biggest fall in 28 years.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7839023.stm Big fall in UK inflation to 3.1% BBC News 20 January 2009 28 March 2010 21 January – Statistics released by the Office for National Statistics show that the number of unemployed people in the UK has risen to more than 1.9 million, the highest level since late 1996.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7841349.stm UK unemployment hits 1.92 million BBC News 21 January 2009 28 March 2010 22 January – The Disasters Emergency Committee of UK charities launches its Gaza Crisis Appeal following the recent conflict in the region. The BBC causes controversy by saying it will not be broadcasting the appeal as it would compromise its impartiality.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7846150.stm BBC defends Gaza appeal decision BBC News 22 January 2009 28 March 2010 23 January The Office for National Statistics announces that the United Kingdom's economy is officially in recession for the first time since 1991.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7846266.stm UK in recession as economy slides BBC News 23 January 2009 28 March 2010 The economy has now suffered three successive quarters of contraction, with the final quarter of last year seeing the economy shrink by 1.8% – one of the worst quarterly detractions since records began.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8162217.stm BBC News UK recovery 'to take five years' 22 July 2009 5 February 2011 Karen Matthews and Michael Donavon are sentenced to eight years in prison for the kidnap of Shannon Matthews, the former's daughter, having held her captive in Donvon's flat in Dewsbury last year as part of a bid to claim £50,000 for her "safe return" after reporting her missing to the police.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4324634/Karen-Matthews-jailed-for-eight-years-over-daughter-Shannons-kidnap.html Karen Matthews jailed for eight years over daughter Shannon's kidnap The Daily Telegraph 23 January 2009 29 December 2009 London Paul Stokes Jonathan Ross returns to television after serving a three-month suspension from the BBC following the row over prank telephone calls made to Andrew Sachs.24 January 2009 Ross apologises on TV show return BBC News https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7844080.stm 28 March 2010 24 January – Two climbers from Northern Ireland and another from Scotland are killed in an avalanche on Buachaille Etive Mòr in the Highlands of Scotland. Five others walk away uninjured, whilst another suffers a shoulder injury.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7848934.stm Three die in Highlands avalanche BBC News 24 January 2009 28 March 2010 25 January – The Sunday Times publishes allegations that four Labour members of the House of Lords are willing to accept money to table amendments to legislation.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7849594.stm 'Concern' over peers cash claims BBC News 25 January 2009 28 March 2010 26 January – Possession of 'extreme pornography' becomes illegal under the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008.http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2008/ukpga_20080004_en_17#pt12-l1g153 Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 – 153: Commencement Opsi.gov.uk 28 March 2010http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20082993_en_1 Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (Commencement No. 4 and Saving Provision) Order 2008 Opsi.gov.uk 28 March 2010 28 January The International Monetary Fund projects that the UK economy will shrink by 2.8% in the forthcoming year, the biggest drop in any advanced nation.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7856020.stm World growth 'worst for 60 years BBC News 28 January 2009 28 March 2010 Hundreds of workers strike at the Lindsey Oil Refinery in Lincolnshire in protest at the hiring of foreign construction workers at the site, despite rising unemployment in the UK.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/humber/7855752.stm Mass walkout over foreign labour BBC News 28 January 2009 28 March 2010 Sir Paul Stephenson takes office as Metropolitan Police Commissioner. 30 January 2009 Lindsey Oil Refinery strikes: Workers at around a dozen energy sites across the UK walk out in support of the workers at the Lindsey refinery, who walked out two days ago over the hiring of foreign workers.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7859968.stm Refinery strikes spread across UK BBC News 30 January 2009 28 March 2010 A British soldier from 1st Battalion The Rifles, later named as Corporal Daniel Nield, is killed in a firefight in Southern Afghanistan. This takes the total number of British forces to die in the conflict to 143. February 1 February – Three day state visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao begins; pro-Tibet protestors stage2 a demonstration outside the Chinese embassy in London. 2 February Heavy snow falls overnight across large parts of the country, causing widespread disruption. It is the heaviest snowfall in the UK for eighteen years. Many roads are blocked in the morning rush hour, whilst train services are disrupted and many airport runways closed. Transport for London suspends all London buses, and the London Underground is also severely disrupted. Meanwhile, thousands of schools are forced to close due to the adverse weather conditions.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7864395.stm Heavy snow hits much of England BBC News 2 February 2009 28 March 2010 Contractors at the Sellafield and Heysham nuclear plants walk out in the ongoing unofficial strike action over foreign workers.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7863879.stm Nuclear workers join strikes wave BBC News 2 February 2009 28 March 2010 3 February – Adverse weather conditions continue to cause widespread disruption to education and transport in large parts of England.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7866402.stm Further disruption for commuters BBC News 3 February 2009 28 March 2010 5 February Further heavy snow in parts of England and Wales cause fresh school closures and travel disruption.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7871247.stm Fresh snow brings travel problems BBC News 5 February 2009 28 March 2010 The Halifax reports a rise in house prices of 1.9% in January. However, it also reports that, on average, the price of a house fell by 17.2% in the 12 months since January 2008.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7871614.stm House prices 'up 1.9% in January BBC News 5 February 2009 28 March 2010 Workers participating in unofficial strikes over the use of foreign workers agree to return to work after a compromise deal is struck by Acas.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7871657.stm Refinery staff vote to end strike BBC News 5 February 2009 28 March 2010 The Bank of England reduces the base rate of interest by 0.5% to 1.0%, the fifth reduction since October 2008.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7871932.stm UK reduces interest rates to 1% BBC News 5 February 2009 28 March 2010 Undefeated boxing champion Joe Calzaghe announces his retirement from the sport after 46 fights over more than 15 years.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/boxing/7871918.stm Undefeated Calzaghe quits boxing BBC News 5 February 2009 28 March 2010 8 February – At the 62nd British Academy Film Awards, the 'BAFTAs', British drama Slumdog Millionaire wins seven awards, including Best Film and Best Director for Danny Boyle. British actress Kate Winslet also wins the award for Best Leading Actress for her performance in The Reader.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7877985.stm Slumdog sweeps to BAFTA success BBC News 8 February 2009 28 March 2010 9 February – Chelsea F.C. manager Luiz Felipe Scolari is dismissed by the club's board after results deteriorate "at a key time in the season".https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/7879638.stm Scolari sacked as Chelsea manager BBC News 9 February 2009 28 March 2010 It comes just hours after fellow Premier League manager, Tony Adams of Portsmouth F.C., is dismissed, again after a poor run of results.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/7878084.stm Portsmouth confirm Adams sacking BBC News 9 February 2009 28 March 2010 10 February – The former chief executives of the two British banks hit hardest by the 2008 financial crisis, Fred Goodwin of Royal Bank of Scotland and Andy Hornby of HBOS, apologise "profoundly and unreservedly" for their respective banks' failure in an evidence session with the Treasury Select Committee.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7880292.stm Former bank bosses say 'sorry' BBC News 10 February 2009 28 March 2010 11 February The Metropolitan Police announced they will not launch an investigation into the recent Cash for Influence scandal in the House of Lords.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7884091.stm Police decide against peers probe BBC News 11 February 2009 28 March 2010 The Deputy Chairman of the Financial Services Authority, Sir James Crosby, resigns amid allegations that, whilst chief executive of HBOS, he dismissed a senior manager who raised concerns that the bank was exposed to too much risk.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7883409.stm Sir James Crosby resigns from FSA BBC News 11 February 2009 28 March 2010 Four people, including two teenage air cadets, are killed in a mid-air collision between two light aircraft over the Welsh coast.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7883338.stm Four die in mid-air plane crash BBC News 11 February 2009 28 March 2010 The Office for National Statistics announced that UK unemployment has risen to 1.97 million, an increase of 146,000 in the last three months.11 February 2009 UK jobless total at 1.97 million BBC News https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7882745.stm 28 March 2010 12 February – A British soldier serving in Iraq, later named as Private Ryan Wrathall, dies in what the Ministry of Defence described as a 'shooting incident'. This takes the total number of British forces to die in the conflict to 179, and marks the first British death in Iraq in 2009.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7889308.stm Basra gunshot death soldier named BBC News 13 February 2009 28 March 2010 13 February Shares in the Lloyds Banking Group close down over 30% after they suggest that one of its subsidiaries, HBOS, would post annual losses of nearly £11 billion. In response, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, says that a 'range of options' remains in place to assist the banking system, and refuses to rule out full nationalisation.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7889798.stm Darling defends bailout of HBOS BBC News 14 February 2009 28 March 2010 A BA CityFlyer flight from Amsterdam loses its nosewheel on arrival at London City Airport due to a 'hard landing'. One passenger is hospitalised with minor injuries.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/7889728.stm BA jet in airport 'hard landing BBC News 14 February 2009 28 March 2010 14 February – A Royal Marine from 45 Commando, later named by the Ministry of Defence as Marine Darren Smith, is killed by enemy gunfire in Southern Afghanistan. This takes the total number of British forces to die in the conflict to 144. 16 February – A British soldier from 1st Battalion The Rifles, later named as Lance Corporal Stephen Kingscott, is killed by enemy fire in Southern Afghanistan. This increases the total number of British forces to die in the conflict to 145. 17 February Amid growing public and political pressure, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, announces a reduction in the payment of bonuses to senior staff at RBS and that these reduced bonuses will be paid in shares, rather than cash.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7895235.stm Chancellor sets RBS bonus limit BBC News 17 February 2009 28 March 2010 Official figures show that the UK's CPI, the official measure of inflation, has fallen by 0.1% in January to 3.1%. The alternative measure of inflation, the Retail Price Index, fell by 0.8% to 0.1% in the same monthly period.17 February 2009 UK inflation rate declines to 3% BBC News https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7893873.stm 28 March 2010 18 February – The Yorkshire Ripper is released from Broadmoor Hospital to face a life sentence for killing 13 women and attempting to kill 7 more, after doctors claim he has been treated for schizophrenia. 22 February At the 81st Academy Awards, British film Slumdog Millionaire wins 8 awards including Best Picture and Best Director. British actress Kate Winslet wins the Best Actress award for her role in The Reader.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/oscars/7904567.stm Oscar joy for Slumdog Millionaire BBC News 23 February 2009 28 March 2010 TV personality, Jade Goody and her boyfriend, Jack Tweed, are married at Down Hall, Essex. Goody, 27, has had cervical cancer for six months and was told earlier this month that she may only have weeks to live after the cancer spread to her bowel, liver and groin.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7903784.stm Terminally ill Jade Goody marries BBC News 22 February 2009 29 December 2009 She dies at her home in Essex exactly one month later.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7925719.stm Reality TV star Jade Goody dies BBC News 22 March 2009 29 December 2009 Tweed is free on license following imprisonment for assault.https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/kisses-as-jade-goody-greets-her-boyfriend-outside-prison-gates-6858045.html Kisses as Jade Goody Greets Her Boyfriend Outside Prison Gates London Evening Standard 27 January 2009 3 February 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20090308025407/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/article-23629240-details/Kisses%2Bas%2BJade%2BGoody%2Bgreets%2Bher%2Bboyfriend%2Boutside%2Bprison%2Bgates/article.do 8 March 2009 23 February – Binyam Mohamed, a British national suspected of involvement in terrorist activities, is returned to the United Kingdom after being held at Guantanamo Bay Detention Centre for more than four years. Mohammed alleges that he was subject to extraordinary rendition and that UK agents were complicit in his torture.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7906684.stm Freed detainee 'happy to be home' BBC News 23 February 2009 28 March 2010 25 February Three British soldiers from 1st Battalion The Rifles, later named as Corporal Tom Gaden, Lance Corporal Paul Upton and Rifleman Jamie Gunn, are killed in an explosion in Southern Afghanistan. In a separate incident, a Royal Marine from 45 Commando, Signaller Michael Laski, dies in a British hospital after sustaining injuries in the Aghan conflict on Monday 23 February. The four deaths take the total number of British forces to die in the Afghan conflict to 149. Labour Party peer Lord Ahmed is sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment for dangerous driving, having been involved in a fatal crash.http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/lord-ahmed-jailed-for-12-weeks-911583 Lord Ahmed jailed for 12 weeks for dangerous driving 25 February 2009 Manchester Evening News Prime Minister's Questions is suspended by the Speaker Michael Martin following a request from Prime Minister Gordon Brown as a mark of respect following the death of the six-year-old son of the Leader of the Opposition David Cameron.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7909562.stm Cameron's 'beautiful boy' dies BBC News 25 February 2009 28 March 2010 It is the first time that PMQs has been suspended since the death of the then Labour Party leader John Smith in 1994.https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/politics-put-on-hold-as-house-mourns-death-of-leaders-son-1632389.html Politics put on hold as house mourns death of leaders son The Independent 26 February 2009 28 March 2010 London Andrew Grice 25 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110925170606/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/politics-put-on-hold-as-house-mourns-death-of-leaders-son-1632389.html dead 26 February – The Royal Bank of Scotland, as expected, announces annual losses totalling £24.1 billion, the biggest loss in British corporate history. It is also confirmed that the bank is to receive a further £13 billion from the government in return for an increased stake in the company.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7911722.stm RBS reports record corporate loss BBC News 26 February 2009 28 March 2010 Alongside this announcement, the bank announces that its former chief executive, Fred Goodwin, is to receive a £693,000-a-year pension for life. This leads to widespread condemnation, whilst the government threaten legal action to claw back the payments.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7914993.stm Brown vows to claw pension back BBC News 27 February 2009 28 March 2010 27 February – Lloyds Banking Group announces that their HBOS subsidiary made annual losses of £10.8 billion in 2008. The Lloyds TSB division of the group made a profit of £807 million, down 80% on 2007.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7914013.stm Lloyds sees HBOS loss of £10.8bn BBC News 27 February 2009 28 March 2010 28 February – The government launches an inquiry into a Fred Goodwin's pension and massive losses by HBOS in 2008. March 1 March – Manchester United F.C. win the 2009 Carling Cup, beating Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 4–1 on penalties in the final. The scores stood level at 0–0 after 90 minutes and extra time.McNulty Phil https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/7905889.stm Manchester Utd 0–0 Tottenham (aet) BBC News 1 March 2009 28 March 2010thumb|240px|right|Gordon Brown and President Barack Obama in the White House, 3 March 2009 4 March Gordon Brown becomes the fifth British Prime Minister to address the United States Congress following talks with US President Barack Obama in Washington D.C.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7922426.stm Seize the moment, Brown urges US BBC News 4 March 2009 28 March 2010 ITV announces it is cutting 600 jobs after it reported a loss of £2.6 billion for 2008. The jobs will go from the company's Yorkshire studios in Leeds and from their headquarters in London.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7922770.stm Troubled ITV cuts jobs and costs BBC News 4 March 2009 28 March 2010 5 March The Bank of England reduces the base interest rate to 0.5%, its lowest ever level. It also announces plans to begin quantitative easing by injecting £75 billion into the British economy.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7927100.stm Bank to pump £75bn into economy BBC News 5 March 2009 28 March 2010 Michael Jackson announces the This Is It concert tour to take place at the O2 Arena in London. This is prevented by his death later this year.Fans, promoters count cost of canceled Jackson concerts - CNN.com https://edition.cnn.com/2009/BUSINESS/06/26/jackson.london.concerts/ 6 June 2023 CNN 6 March – Police launch an investigation after a protester throws green custard at the Business and Enterprise Secretary, Peter Mandelson, in protest at the government's decision to approve the construction of a third runway at Heathrow Airport.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7928946.stm Mandelson custard attack probed BBC News 6 March 2009 28 March 2010 7 March The government takes a controlling stake, reported to be 65%, in the troubled Lloyds Banking Group. Toxic loans totalling £260 billion will be insured by the government as part of the deal.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7929957.stm Treasury takes 65% Lloyds stake BBC News 7 March 2009 28 March 2010 Massereene Barracks shooting: Two soldiers from 38 Engineer Regiment are killed in a shooting attack at the Massereene Barracks in Antrim, Northern Ireland. The Real IRA claim responsibility for the attack which is met with widespread condemnation across the community.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7930837.stm Two die in 'barbaric' Army attack BBC News 8 March 2009 28 March 2010https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7930995.stm 'Real IRA was behind army attack BBC News 8 March 2009 28 March 2010 9 March – A police officer is shot dead in Craigavon, County Armagh. A dissident republican group, the Continuity IRA, claim responsibility for the attack, the second of its kind in two days.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7934426.stm Continuity IRA shot dead officer BBC News 10 March 2009 28 March 2010 13 March – Comic Relief 2009 raises a record total in excess of £57 million at the climax of their telethon, surpassing the amount raised during the 2007 telethon by over £17 million.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7939425.stm Comic Relief reaches record £57m BBC News 14 March 2009 28 March 2010 14 March – A British soldier from Royal Welsh Regiment, 2nd Battalion, later named as Lance Corporal Christopher Harkett, is killed in an explosion in Southern Afghanistan. It takes the total number of British forces to die in the conflict to 150. 16 March – Two British soldiers from Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards, later named as Corporals Graeme Stiff and Dean John, are killed in an explosion in Southern Afghanistan. The deaths take the total number of British forces to die in the Afghan conflict to 152. 18 March The Office for National Statistics announce that UK unemployment rose to 2.03 million in the three months to January. It takes unemployment above 2 million for the first time since 1997.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7947766.stm Unemployment passes two millions BBC News 18 March 2009 28 March 2010 Sean Hodgson, who has served 27 years in prison since being convicted of murder in 1982, is acquitted at the Court of Appeal in London.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7950303.stm Man freed after 27 years in jail BBC News 18 March 2009 28 March 2010 24 March – The Consumer Price Index, the government's preferred measure of inflation, unexpectedly rises to 3.2% in February, a rise of 0.2% on the previous month. The alternative measure of inflation, the Retail Price Index falls to 0.0% for the first time in nearly 50 years.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7959564.stm Surprise hike in consumer prices BBC News 24 March 2009 28 March 2010 27 March – Official figures confirm that the United Kingdom is still in recession, with the economy shrinking by 1.6% in the final quarter of 2008 compared to the third quarter.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7967597.stm UK economy shrinks at faster pace BBC News 27 March 2009 28 March 2010 29 March – It emerges that Home Secretary Jacqui Smith submitted an expenses claim for a TV package which included pornographic films watched by her husband. April April – The economy continues to decline dramatically, with statistics showing a 2.4% rate of contraction for the first quarter of this year. 1 April A Super Puma helicopter crashes in the North Sea whilst transporting oil-rig workers. All 16 people on board, 14 passengers and 2 crew, are killed.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/north_east/7982836.stm Helicopter crash dead identified BBC News 5 April 2009 28 March 2010 Protests are held across London ahead of the following day's G20 summit. Police report 63 arrests across the city, where a branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland is targeted by protesters, believed to be as a result of the ongoing anger at the pension of former chief executive, Fred Goodwin. The Metropolitan Police later announce that one protester had died of a heart-attack during the protests.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7977489.stm Police clash with G20 protesters BBC News 1 April 2009 28 March 2010thumb|250px|The world leaders present at the G-20 London Summit, 2 April 2009 On 5 April the Independent Police Complaints Commission announces an investigation into the death of Ian Tomlinson, the protester. Video footage emerges on 7 April showing him being pushed to the ground by a police officer. 2 April – The 2009 G20 London summit is held in response to the 2008 financial crisis and the Great Recession. The summit ends in the leaders announcing various measures, including a $1.1 trillion investment in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7979483.stm G20 leaders seal $1tn global deal BBC News 2 April 2009 28 March 2010 3 April – Vincent Nichols is named as the new Archbishop of Westminster and head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, replacing Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor. 8 April Analogue television signals begin to be switched off in the Westcountry Television area as part of the UK's ongoing process of digital switchover.http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when_do_i_switch/west_country Westcountry Digital UK 28 March 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20090815110427/http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when_do_i_switch/west_country 15 August 2009 dead Police and MI5 conduct eight counter-terrorism raids in North-West England. The raids have had to be brought forward because operational details had been visible on a document being carried by an assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bob Quick as he arrived at 10 Downing Street for a meeting with the Prime Minister earlier in the day; Mr Quick resigned the following day. 11 April – Gordon Brown's special adviser Damian McBride resigns his position after it emerges that he and another prominent Labour Party operative, blogger Derek Draper, had exchanged a series of emails in which they discussed plans to smear Conservative Party politicians with a series of false stories about their private lives.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7995044.stm No 10 official quits over e-mails BBC News 11 April 2009 28 March 2010 16 April – Horrible Histories premieres on CBBC. 22 April Alistair Darling, the Chancellor of the Exchequer delivers the government's budget to the House of Commons. It includes the introduction of a 50% tax rate for those earning in excess of £150,000 and the announcement that Britain's debt level will rise to 79% of GDP by 2013.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8011321.stm Tax rise as UK debt hits record BBC News 22 April 2009 28 March 2010 Figures show unemployment has now risen to more than 2.1 million, the highest level seen under the current government.Kollewe Julia 2009-04-22 UK unemployment reaches 2.1m on Darling's budget day https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/apr/22/unemployment-figures-jobseekers-allowance 2025-11-03 The Guardian en-GB 0261-3077thumb|250px|Magnified image of the H1NI flu virus, origin of a pandemic. 27 April – 2009 swine flu pandemic: The pandemic H1N1/09 virus originating in Mexico spreads to the UK, with 2 cases confirmed in Scotland. 29 April Three cases of swine flu are confirmed in England. One adult is diagnosed in Redditch, another in South London, whilst a 12-year-old girl is diagnosed in Torbay.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8024690.stm Three new swine flu cases in UK BBC News 29 April 2009 28 March 2010 Meanwhile, the Scottish Health Secretary, Nicola Sturgeon announces that 15 suspected cases in Scotland are negative.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8024742.stm Suspected Scots flu cases hits 32 BBC News 29 April 2009 28 March 2010 The government is defeated on an opposition day motion in the House of Commons by 267 votes to 246 over their policy on Gurkha settlement rights.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8023882.stm Brown defeated over Gurkha rules BBC News 29 April 2009 28 March 2010 30 April A further three cases of swine flu are confirmed by the Department of Health. Two of the cases are located in London, with the third being in Newcastle.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8026121.stm UK confirms eight swine flu cases BBC News 30 April 2009 28 March 2010 The British military operation in Iraq officially ends after six years of combat. The Basra Province is handed over to American forces in a special ceremony, ahead of the withdrawal of British troops in the summer.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8026136.stm UK combat operations end in Iraq BBC News 30 April 2009 28 March 2010 The House of Commons pass a number of reforms to the rules governing MPs allowances. May 1 May – The number of confirmed swine flu cases in the UK reaches 99. Notably, the first cases of human to human transmission of the virus are confirmed in Scotland and South Gloucestershire.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8030307.stm UK waits on 600 swine flu tests BBC News 2 May 2009 28 March 2010http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Swine-Flu-Hundreds-Of-People-Being-Tested-For-Virus-After-Person-To-Person-Transmission-Confirmed/Article/200905115273689?lpos=UK_News_Swine_Flu_First_Article_Teaser_0&lid=ARTICLE_15273689_Swine_Flu%3A_Hundreds_Of_People_Being_Tested_For_Virus_After_Person-To-Person_Transmission_Confirmed Sky News – Hundreds Tested For Swine Flu As Cases Rise BSkyB 28 March 2010 8 May – The Daily Telegraph obtains a full copy of MPs' expenses claims and begins publishing them unredacted prior to the official parliamentary publication date of 1 July, reigniting the MPs' expenses controversy.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7840678.stm Q&A: The MP expenses row BBC News 18 June 2009 28 March 2010 12 May – Conservative leader of the opposition David Cameron says he will pay back a £680 expenses claim on his constituency home. He also orders fellow Tory MPs to repay thousands of pounds in claims as the on-going expenses scandal engulfs parliament. 14 May – A number of MPs from all parties are either suspended or announce their resignations due to the expenses scandal. Several weeks later almost 100 MPs will have announced that they will not be standing at the next general election. 16 May – Manchester United win the Premier League championship for the third consecutive year after a 0–0 draw against Arsenal F.C. at their home ground, Old Trafford. They have now equalled Liverpool's record tally of 18 top division titles.McNulty Phil https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/8038259.stm Man Utd 0–0 Arsenal BBC News 18 May 2009 28 March 2010 19 May – The Speaker of the House of Commons, Michael Martin, announces his resignation from the office after coming under criticism for his handling of the ongoing expenses row.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8057203.stm Speaker quits 'for sake of unity' BBC News 19 May 2009 28 March 2010 20 May – Labour peers Lord Taylor of Blackburn and Lord Truscott are suspended from Parliament for six months each having been found guilty of breaching the code of conduct and also failing to act on their personal honour. The suspensions came about as a result of the 2009 cash for influence scandal and are the first such actions since 1642.https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/lords-votes-to-ban-cash-for-amendments-peers-1688415.html Lords votes to ban 'cash-for-amendments' peers 20 May 2009 The Independent 10 November 2020 10 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201110071813/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/lords-votes-to-ban-cash-for-amendments-peers-1688415.html dead 21 May – Following a long campaign by Gurkha veterans who served in the British Armed Forces before 1997, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announces that all Gurkha veterans who have served four years or more in the British Army before 1997 will be allowed to settle in Britain.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8060607.stm Gurkhas win right to settle in UK BBC News 21 May 2009 23 May 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090523012535/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8060607.stm 23 May 2009 live 22 May – Whitelee Wind Farm, the largest onshore wind farm in Europe, officially opens in Scotland.http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/05/europes-largest-onshore-wind-farm-is-switched-on-in-scotland Europe's Largest Onshore Wind Farm Is Switched on in Scotland 22 May 2009 Renewable Energy World 10 November 2011Switch-On at Europe's Largest Onshore Windfarm Scottish Power Renewables http://www.scottishpowerrenewables.com/pages/press_releases.asp?article=47&date_year=2009 22 May 2009 10 November 2011 27 May – Manchester United lose 2–0 to FC Barcelona of Spain in the European Cup final at Rome's Olympic Stadium.http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1117670_united_lose_champions_league_final United lose Champions League final Manchester Evening News 27 May 2009 29 December 2009 30 May – Chelsea win the FA Cup for the fifth time after beating Everton 2–1 in the final at Wembley Stadium. Everton French striker Louis Saha scores the fastest ever FA Cup Final goal, after 23 secondshttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/facup/5413238/FA-Cup-final-2009-Chelsea-win-at-Wembley-highlight-of-my-stay-says-Guus-Hiddink.html https://web.archive.org/web/20090601214403/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/facup/5413238/FA-Cup-final-2009-Chelsea-win-at-Wembley-highlight-of-my-stay-says-Guus-Hiddink.html dead 1 June 2009 FA Cup final 2009: Chelsea win at Wembley 'highlight' of my stay, says Guus Hiddink The Daily Telegraph 30 May 2009 29 December 2009 London Giles Mole June 1 June – An Ipsos MORI opinion poll suggests the Conservatives are on course for a landslide election victory, with 40% of those polled saying they would vote for the party. Labour and the Liberal Democrats stand 22% behind the Conservatives, both being supported by 18% of respondents. Minority parties, including the British National Party and UK Independence Party appear to be enjoying a surge in support, alongside the Scottish and Welsh nationalists.http://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/poll.aspx?oItemId=2321 Ipsos MORI Political Monitor May 2009 Ipsos MORI 1 June 2009 29 December 2009 2 June The Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, confirms she will leave the Cabinet in the next reshuffle, expected after the forthcoming local and European elections. It is also announced that the Cabinet Office Minister, Tom Watson and the Minister for Children, Beverley Hughes are to leave government.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8079205.stm Home Secretary Smith to step down BBC News 2 June 2009 3 June 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090603013100/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8079205.stm 3 June 2009 live The Labour Party bars four of its MPs from standing at the next general election. Elliot Morley, Ian Gibson, David Chaytor and Margaret Moran had come under scrutiny in the MPs expenses scandal. 3 June – The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears, resigns from the Cabinet, placing increased pressure on the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8080777.stm Brown attacked after Blears quits BBC News 3 June 2009 3 June 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090606075501/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8080777.stm 6 June 2009 live 4 June 2009 European Parliament election: Labour suffer a significant drop in support, losing 5 seats and being pushed from second to third place in vote share by the Eurosceptic UKIP, while the Conservatives also enjoy an increase in support, and the far-right BNP gain 2 seats, their first ever in the European Parliament. 2009 local elections: In further poor results for the Labour Party, all 4 remaining councils under their control fall to the Conservative Party's control. The Conservatives achieve 38% of the vote, the Liberal Democrats 28% and Labour 23%.5 June 2009 Labour loses council strongholds BBC News https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8085558.stm live 8 June 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090607225912/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8085558.stm 7 June 2009 5 June – In the aftermath of yesterday's election results, Prime Minister Gordon Brown reshuffles his cabinet amidst some pressure on his leadership of the Labour Party.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8084571.stm The Full Story: Brown's Reshuffle BBC News 5 June 2009 8 June 2009 Jon Kelly Justin Parkinson https://web.archive.org/web/20090608140024/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8084571.stm 8 June 2009 live 8 June – Paedophile nursery worker Vanessa George is arrested on suspicion of child sex abuse in connection to the 2009 Plymouth child abuse casehttps://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-11693243 Timeline: Vanessa George abuse 4 November 2010 BBC 9 June Newly elected MEP and leader of the British National Party Nick Griffin is forced to abandon a press conference outside the Houses of Parliament after being ambushed by protesters. Unemployment in Britain is now standing at a 14-year high of 2.22 million and the quarterly rise in unemployment is the highest for 28 years.9 June 2009 UK unemployment figures BBC News https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8046128.stm 29 December 2009 14 June The first death in the United Kingdom related to the 2009 swine flu pandemic is confirmed by the Scottish Government at 20:30 BST.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8099832.stm First UK swine flu patient death BBC News 15 June 2009 15 June 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090617180142/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8099832.stm 17 June 2009 live There will eventually be 474 confirmed deaths in the UK. The Big Top 40 Show is the first real-time chart show ever to be broadcast in the United Kingdom, consisting of downloads and airplay. The show is broadcast on 142 stations – the largest number of stations that a radio show is broadcast on in the UK.http://radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.4768.2 Top 40 Chart Radio Today 26 May 2009 28 March 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110718084318/http://radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.4768.2 18 July 2011 15 June Prime Minister Gordon Brown announces an independent inquiry into events surrounding the Iraq War.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8100432.stm Iraq war inquiry to be in private BBC News 15 June 2009 15 June 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090616155610/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8100432.stm 16 June 2009 live The Calman Commission recommends that the Scottish Parliament be given greater control over tax and legislation such as setting speed limits.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8099634.stm 'Radical' Holyrood powers urged BBC News 15 June 2009 15 June 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090616121909/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8099634.stm 16 June 2009 live 16 June The long-awaited Digital Britain report is published. It makes a number of recommendations with regard to broadband access, internet use and public broadcasting.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8093054.stm Digital Britain countdown begins BBC News 16 June 2009 20 June 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090619095255/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8093054.stm 19 June 2009 live An official inquiry begins into the MPs expenses scandal, conducted by The Committee on Standards in Public Life. 18 June – MPs' expenses are published online by Parliamentary authorities,https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8105227.stm MPs' expenses made public online BBC News 18 June 2009 18 June 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090619182853/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8105227.stm 19 June 2009 live but the decision to black out many of the details leads to criticism.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8107922.stm Row over blacked out MP expenses BBC News 18 June 2009 18 June 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090621091923/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8107922.stm 21 June 2009 live 21 June – The final British Grand Prix (providing Donington Park is prepared on time) to be held at the Silverstone Circuit is won by Sebastian Vettel. Britain's Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton finish 6th and 16th respectively.thumb|200px|The newly elected Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow. 22 June – Conservative MP John Bercow is elected as the 157th Speaker of the House of Commons.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8111887.stm Tory MP Bercow is elected Speaker BBC News 22 June 2009 22 June 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090622191726/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8111887.stm 22 June 2009 live 25 June – The BBC publishes the expenses of some of its top executives. Among the information to be revealed is that the corporation's Director General Mark Thompson claimed over £2,000 after cutting short his holiday in October 2008 to deal with the row over The Russell Brand Show phone calls controversy.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8118233.stm Top BBC bosses' expenses revealed BBC News 25 June 2009 25 June 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090626171207/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8118233.stm 26 June 2009 live July right vertical 200 Henry Allingham in June 2006.jpg Harry Patch.jpg Britain's last two Army veterans of World War I. Top: Henry Allingham, the oldest man in the world and one of the last surviving veterans of World War I, who died on 18 July aged 113. Above: Harry Patch, the last British Army veteran of World War I, who died on 25 July aged 111. 1 July Two British soldiers are killed in an explosion in Afghanistan. It is later confirmed that one of the casualties is Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, the most senior ranking officer to be killed in action since Colonel H. Jones during the Falklands campaign.http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/LieutenantColonelRupertThorneloeAndTrooperJoshuaHammondKilledInAfghanistan.htm Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe and Trooper Joshua Hammond killed in Afghanistan Ministry of Defence 2 July 2009 1 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090805094624/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/LieutenantColonelRupertThorneloeAndTrooperJoshuaHammondKilledInAfghanistan.htm 5 August 2009 livehttps://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8131698.stm Tribute to 'outstanding' soldiers BBC News 3 July 2009 1 August 2009 The government announces that it is taking the InterCity East Coast franchise into a period of public ownership, after the incumbent operator, National Express East Coast, said it planned to default on its franchise agreement.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8127851.stm East Coast rail to be state run BBC News 1 July 2009 2 July 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20111012000316/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8127851.stm 12 October 2011 live Elizabeth Cross instituted for award to the next of kin of members of the armed forces killed in action (or as the result of terrorism) since World War II.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8128582.stm New Queen's award for forces dead 1 July 2009 BBC 9 March 2024 5 July – The Staffordshire Hoard, the largest haul of Anglo-Saxon treasure ever found, is uncovered. The 1,500 gold and silver pieces are discovered buried beneath a field in Staffordshire by metal detecting enthusiast Terry Herbert. This is made public on 24 September.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/staffordshire/8272058.stm Huge Anglo-Saxon gold hoard found BBC News 24 September 2009 24 September 2009Maev Kennedy Maev Kennedy A beep, and Mr Lucky opened the door on a lost world The Guardian London 25 September 2009 6–7 8 July The Guardian claims that rival English newspaper, the Rupert Murdoch-owned News of the World tabloid, paid £1 million in court costs after its journalists were accused of involvement in phone tapping celebrities and politicians.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8141300.stm News of the World 'bugging' claim BBC News 8 July 2009 14 July 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090709011839/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8141300.stm 9 July 2009 live The First Test of the 2009 Ashes series takes place in Cardiff's SWALEC Stadium 11 July – The UK announces that 8 British soldiers are killed in Afghanistan, the country's worst death toll in a 24-hour period.http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/07/20097114914993351.html UK troop losses rise in Afghanistan Al Jazeera 11 July 2009 14 July 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090712012026/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/07/20097114914993351.html 12 July 2009 live 14 July – BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons announces that bonuses for the 10 most senior BBC executives will be suspended indefinitely.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8149036.stm BBC chiefs' bonuses are suspended BBC News 14 July 2009 14 July 2009 15 July – Unemployment figures show the jobless total in Britain now stands at 2.38 million, a level not seen since 1995.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8151017.stm UK jobless total climbs to 2.4m BBC News 15 July 2009 29 December 2009 16 July – ITV announces that its news and information Teletext service will be discontinued within the next six months as a result of mounting losses and the inability to find a viable business model to continue.Mark Sweney https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/jul/16/teletext-to-be-pulled-tv Teletext news to be pulled from TV | The Guardian. The Guardian 1 February 2012 London 16 July 2009 18 July – Henry Allingham, the world's oldest man and one of the last surviving First World War servicemen, dies aged 113.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8157128.stm Oldest WWI veteran dies aged 113 BBC News 18 July 2009 25 July 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090718100836/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8157128.stm 18 July 2009 live 21 July – The first race meeting is held at Ffos Las racecourse in south Wales, the first new National Hunt racing course to be built in the UK for eighty years.New Wales racecourse goes flat out http://www.newswales.co.uk/?section=Sport&F=1&id=17109 News Wales 13 July 2009 13 February 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110728042008/http://www.newswales.co.uk/?section=Sport&F=1&id=17109 28 July 2011 dead 22 July – Cardiff City F.C. move into their new Cardiff City Stadium, a 27,000-capacity, all-seater venue, after 99 years at Ninian Park.http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2009/04/22/cardiff-city-to-welcome-celtic-for-stadium-opener-91466-23445071/ Cardiff City to welcome Celtic for stadium opener Western Mail 22 April 2009 19 January 2013 23 July The Government launches the National Pandemic Flu Service across England, a website and phoneline allowing people who think they have the pandemic H1N1/09 virus to bypass the NHS to obtain antiviral drugs.http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/UK-Swine-Flu-Hotline-Service-Launched-Allowing-People-To-Bypass-NHS-To-Get-Antiviral-Drugs/Article/200907415344549?lpos=UK_News_Article_Related_Content_Region_8&lid=ARTICLE_15344549_UK_Swine_Flu_Hotline_Service_Launched_Allowing_People_To_Bypass_NHS_To_Get_Antiviral_Drugs DIY Diagnosis: Swine Flu Hotline Launched Sky News Tessa Chapman 23 July 2009 25 July 2009 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090725083105/http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/UK-Swine-Flu-Hotline-Service-Launched-Allowing-People-To-Bypass-NHS-To-Get-Antiviral-Drugs/Article/200907415344549?lpos=UK_News_Article_Related_Content_Region_8&lid=ARTICLE_15344549_UK_Swine_Flu_Hotline_Service_Launched_Allowing_People_To_Bypass_NHS_To_Get_Antiviral_Drugs 25 July 2009 The website crashes within hours of its launch due to the overwhelming demand.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/swine-flu/5894881/Swine-flu-emergency-website-crashes-under-weight-of-demand.html https://web.archive.org/web/20090726081337/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/swine-flu/5894881/Swine-flu-emergency-website-crashes-under-weight-of-demand.html dead 26 July 2009 Swine flu: emergency website crashes under weight of demand Jon Swaine The Daily Telegraph 23 July 2009 25 July 2009 London 2009 Norwich North by-election: The Conservatives gain the seat with a majority of more than 7,000, making their candidate, 27-year-old Chloe Smith the youngest MP in the UK. The election has been held following the resignation of Labour's Ian Gibson over the MPs expenses row earlier in the year.24 July 2009 Tories beat Labour in by-election BBC News https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8166398.stm 24 July 2009 25 July – Harry Patch, the last British survivor of the First World War trenches and briefly the oldest man in the United Kingdom, dies at the age of 111.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8168691.stm WWI veteran Patch dies aged 111 BBC News 25 July 2009 25 July 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20130726134845/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8168691.stm 26 July 2013 live Claude Choules, a 108-year-old former Royal Navy serviceman who was born in Worcestershire but now lives in Australia, is the last surviving British veteran of the war and one of just three surviving of any nationality.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5919952/Britains-last-surviving-First-World-War-veteran-Claude-Choules-says-war-was-boring.html Britain's last surviving First World War veteran Claude Choules says war was boring The Daily Telegraph 27 July 2009 29 December 2009 London Bonnie Malkin 28 July – The International Rugby Board confirms that the United Kingdom has won the rights to stage both the 2013 Rugby League and the 2015 Rugby Union World Cups.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/jul/28/rugby-union-league-world-cup Britain lands rugby World Cup double The Guardian Owen Gibson 28 July 2009 29 July 2009 London https://web.archive.org/web/20090731114108/http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/jul/28/rugby-union-league-world-cup 31 July 2009 live 30 July – Debbie Purdy who has multiple sclerosis makes legal history by winning her battle to have the law on assisted suicide in England and Wales clarified after the Law Lords rule in her favour.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8177343.stm MS woman wins right-to-die fight BBC News 30 July 2009 30 July 2009 31 July British Airways losses £148m in the last three months, the company's first loss since privatisation in 1987.http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/British-Airways-Loses-148m-In-The-First-Quarter/Article/200907415350415?lpos=Home_Top_Stories_Header_0&lid=ARTICLE_15350415_British_Airways_Loses_%3F148m_In_The_First_Quarter BA Grounds Jets After Suffering Record Loss Sky News 31 July 2009 31 July 2009 Gary McKinnon, a British man with Asperger syndrome loses his latest High Court bid to avoid extradition to the United States to face charges of hacking into US Government computers.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8177561.stm Hacker loses extradition appeal BBC News 31 July 2009 31 July 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090731100507/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8177561.stm 31 July 2009 live August 4 August – Dr Sarah Wollaston is chosen by open primary election as the Conservative Party candidate for Totnes for the 2010 general election, the first time such a mechanism has been used to pick an election candidate in the UK. This follows the decision of the incumbent, Anthony Steen, to step down in the wake of the Parliamentary expenses scandal.http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8182833.stm?ad=1 BBC News GP wins Tory 'open primary' race 4 August 2009 22 May 2010 26 January 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160126114511/http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8182833.stm?ad=1 dead 6 August – Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs, who is gravely ill, is granted release from prison on compassionate grounds.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/8188479.stm Train robber Biggs wins freedom BBC News 6 August 2009 6 August 2009 8 August – The Conservatives are reported to be studying plans for VAT to be increased to 20% if they win the general election, as part of an emergency package to cut national debt.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/5996163/Tories-study-plans-for-20-VAT.html Tories study plans for 20% VAT The Daily Telegraph 8 August 2009 3 January 2010 London Patrick Hennessy Alastair Jamieson https://web.archive.org/web/20100107060822/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/5996163/Tories-study-plans-for-20-VAT.html 7 January 2010 dead 12 August Wales begins the process of digital switchover with the turning off of parts of the analogue signal from the Kilvey Hill transmitting station in Swansea.http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when_do_i_switch/wales/kilvey_hill Kilvey Hill Digital UK 28 March 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090807140933/http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when_do_i_switch/wales/kilvey_hill 7 August 2009 New figures show unemployment now stands at 2.44 million, the highest level for almost 15 years.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8196549.stm UK jobless total climbs to 2.4m BBC News 12 August 2009 29 December 2009 14 August – Britain imposes direct rule on the Turks and Caicos Islands after an inquiry found evidence of government corruption.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8202339.stm UK imposes Turks and Caicos rule BBC News 14 August 2009 15 August 2009 15 August – The number of British Forces personnel killed in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001 reaches 200 after the Ministry of Defence announces the death of a trooper who had been wounded in a roadside attack two days earlier.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8203711.stm Death takes UK Afghan toll to 200 BBC News 15 August 2009 15 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090816102200/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8203711.stm 16 August 2009 livethumb|250px|Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, who made the decision to release Abdelbaset al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds. 20 August – The Scottish justice secretary Kenny MacAskill grants release to the convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds, stating that Megrahi is in the final stages of terminal prostate cancer.Lockerbie bomber Megrahi to be freed despite US opposition 20 August 2009 http://news.scotsman.com/world/Lockerbie-bomber-Megrahi-to-be.5572026.jp Edinburgh The Scotsman 20 August 2009 23 August – In cricket, the Ashes series concludes with England defeating Australia 2–1.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/8217035.stm Victorious England regain Ashes BBC Sport Jamie Lillywhite 23 August 2009 26 August 2009 August – A metal detectorist discovers the Shrewsbury Hoard, about 10,000 Roman coins.Pett Daniel Recent discovery of a Roman Coin Hoard in the Shrewsbury Area http://finds.org.uk/blogs/centralunit/2009/09/07/recent-discovery-of-a-roman-coin-hoard-in-the-shrewsbury-area/ Portable Antiquities Scheme 7 September 2009 9 July 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120306021611/http://finds.org.uk/blogs/centralunit/2009/09/07/recent-discovery-of-a-roman-coin-hoard-in-the-shrewsbury-area/ 6 March 2012 September 7 September – Convictions and acquittals in the trial for those charged over the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/6024663/Airlines-gang-guilty.html Three guilty of plotting biggest ever airline bombing The Daily Telegraph Duncan Gardham 7 September 2009 29 December 2009 London 8 September – The Police Service of Northern Ireland find and defuse a 600 lb bomb in South Armagh after searching the area for almost a week.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8244138.stm Bomb 'was left to kill officers' BBC News 8 September 2009 29 December 2009 9 September – Westcountry Television completes the digital switchover process with the turning off of all analogue signals from the Caradon Hill transmitter.http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when_do_i_switch/west_country/caradon_hill Caradon Hill Digital UK 6 November 2008 28 March 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090822034125/http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when_do_i_switch/west_country/caradon_hill 22 August 2009 14 September – Those convicted for their role in the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot are sentenced. 17 September – Three members of the CIRA are jailed in Northern Ireland for 15 years each for having a live Mortar Bomb.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8260859.stm Dissident mortar bomb gang jailed BBC News 17 September 2009 29 December 2009 Riots break out in Lurgan, County Armagh as a consequence. Cars are hijacked and placed on the railway lines disrupting services between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The riots continue for three days and there are reports of masked gunmen roaming the streets.http://u.tv/News/Masked-gunmen-seen-at-Lurgan-riots-/7c249366-886f-44ce-bb4b-235b6a7b1607 Masked gunmen seen at Lurgan riots UTV 18 September 2009 29 December 2009 29 September – Britain's biggest selling newspaper, The Sun, withdraws its support for the Labour Party and gives its backing to the Conservatives. The announcement comes shortly after Gordon Brown delivered his keynote speech to the 2009 Labour Party Conference,http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6855370.ece Labour fails to conceal its anger after The Sun switches to support Conservatives The Times Phillipe Naughton 30 September 2009 30 September 2009 LondonSeptember 2024 medicmedic and on the same day that Ipsos MORI place Labour in third position, behind both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, in their latest opinion poll.http://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/poll.aspx?oItemId=2475 Labour slip to third place in September Ipsos MORI Political Monitor poll Ipsos MORI 29 September 2009 29 December 2009 October 1 October – The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom officially opens, taking over various powers, including those of the Law Lords.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8283939.stm UK Supreme Court judges sworn in BBC News 1 October 2009 1 October 2009 6 October – Shadow Chancellor George Osborne unveils plans for cutting national debt if the Conservatives win the forthcoming general election. These include increasing the retirement age for men to 66 from 2016, a decade sooner than planned by the current Labour government, as well as increasing the retirement age for women to 65 by 2020.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8291835.stm Tories plan rise in pension age BBC News 6 October 2009 3 January 2010 8 October – Postal workers vote three to one in favour of taking strike action over job security and working conditions.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8296660.stm Royal Mail workers vote to strike BBC News 8 October 2009 8 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091011062042/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8296660.stm 11 October 2009 live 12 October The government announces a £16bn assets sale in an attempt to raise funds to reduce the budget deficit. The Dartford Crossing and the state-owned bookmaker The Tote will be included in the sale.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8301927.stm Brown unveils £16bn assets sale BBC News 12 October 2009 12 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091014192127/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8301927.stm 14 October 2009 live The independent audit of MPs expenses chaired by Sir Thomas Legg is completed. Among those who must repay claimed expenses is Prime Minister Gordon Brown who claimed £12,415 for cleaning and gardening costs.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8303312.stm Brown to repay £12,415 expenses BBC News 12 October 2009 12 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091015091334/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8303312.stm 15 October 2009 live Reports state that United Kingdom has the worst quality of life in Europe, due to long hours, bad weather, low life expectancy and the high price of many consumer goods (as a result of the recession).https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/household-bills/6284423/Britain-has-worst-quality-of-life-in-Europe-study-says.html Britain has worst quality of life in Europe, study says The Daily Telegraph 12 October 2009 25 October 2009 London Harry Wallop https://web.archive.org/web/20091015044331/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/household-bills/6284423/Britain-has-worst-quality-of-life-in-Europe-study-says.html 15 October 2009 dead The Evening Standard becomes a free newspaper in central London.London's 'Evening Standard' to Become Free Paper, a 2 October 2009 article from Editor & Publisher https://web.archive.org/web/20091004161745/http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004018125 4 October 2009 16 October – A bomb detonates under the car belonging to a police officer's wife in the large Unionist area of East Belfast. The woman is taken to hospital with minor injuries as the bomb was set to go off in the passenger side where her husband usually sits but is not present on this day. The Real IRA later claim responsibilityhttp://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/community-telegraph/car-bomb-explosion-in-east-belfast-14534525.html Car bomb explosion in east Belfast The Belfast Telegraph 16 October 2009 29 December 2009 18 October – Great Britain's Jenson Button wins the 2009 Formula One World Drivers' Championship after finishing in fifth place at the Brazilian Grand Prix.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8313300.stm Brilliant Button clinches title BBC Sport 18 October 2009 19 October 2009 Chris Whyatt https://web.archive.org/web/20091020133013/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8313300.stm 20 October 2009 live British based team Brawn GP, who Button drives for, secures the Constructors' Championship at the same race, in their debut season.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8289217.stm Brawn win title in debut F1 year BBC Sport 18 October 2009 19 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091021043626/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8289217.stm 21 October 2009 live 20 October – The latest MORI poll shows Conservative support at 43% – 17 points ahead of Labour. This showing, if translated into votes at an election, would see the Tories form the next government.http://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/poll.aspx?oItemId=2499 Poll – Voting intentions return to pre-conference positions Ipsos MORI 20 October 2009 3 January 2010thumb|350px|A crowd protests BNP Leader Nick Griffin's appearance on the BBC show Question Time. 22 October – British National Party leader Nick Griffin makes a controversial first appearance on the BBC One political debate programme Question Time.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8321157.stm Angry scenes face Griffin at BBC BBC News 22 October 2009 25 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20150725110152/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8321157.stm 25 July 2015 live He later announces his intention to make a formal complaint to the BBC for the way he believed he was treated by the programme's audience, who he described as a "lynch mob" and the show's other guests.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8322322.stm Griffin complaint over BBC 'mob' BBC News 23 October 2009 23 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091025072327/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8322322.stm 25 October 2009 live 24 October – Great Britain finish top of the table in both medals won and number of gold medals at the 2009 IPC Swimming European Championships at Reykjavík, Iceland.http://www.ifsport.is/ec2009_results/day7_afternoon/SW0000000000..C95.7.0.pdf Medal Standings As of 24 Oct 2009 27 August 2015 ifsport.is dead https://web.archive.org/web/20160305134821/http://www.ifsport.is/ec2009_results/day7_afternoon/SW0000000000..C95.7.0.pdf 5 March 2016 25 October – It is reported that the Crown Office of Scotland has emailed relatives of British victims of the Lockerbie Disaster to inform them that a police review of the case has started now that "appeal proceedings" have ended.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8324742.stm Families welcome Lockerbie review BBC News 25 October 2009 25 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091028042550/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8324742.stm 28 October 2009 live November 4 November Five British soldiers are shot dead in Afghanistan's Helmand Province while mentoring and training Afghan police. Six other British servicemen and two Aghan police are also injured in the attack which the UK military blames on a "rogue" policeman.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8341659.stm Five British soldiers shot dead BBC News 4 November 2009 6 November 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091105060022/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8341659.stm 5 November 2009 live General Motors, the owner of British carmaker Vauxhall and its continental Opel partner, makes a surprise decision not to sell the carmaker to Canadian organisation Magna. Granada Television begins the process of digital switchover.http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when_do_i_switch/granada/winter_hill Winter Hill Digital UK 28 March 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090804072541/http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when_do_i_switch/granada/winter_hill 4 August 2009 12 November 2009 Glasgow North East by-election: Labour's Willie Bain wins with a majority of 8,111. The by-election was called following the resignation of MP and former Speaker Michael Martin.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8355282.stm Labour wins in Glasgow North East BBC News 13 November 2009 13 November 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091113101950/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8355282.stm 13 November 2009 live Coroners and Justice Act passed. Amongst other provisions, it abolishes the anachronistic offences of sedition, and seditious, defamatory and obscene libel; and criminalises the holding of someone in slavery or servitude. It abolishes the office of Coroner of the Queen's Household and creates the office of Chief Coroner of England and Wales.http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/25/contents/enacted Coroners and Justice Act 2009 14 November – Severe gales and heavy rain from an Atlantic storm cause floods and damage across southern England and Wales.http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/2009/ht20091117.html http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20091209175328/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/2009/ht20091117.html dead 9 December 2009 Stormy weather 13 and 14 November 2009 17 November 2009 The Met Office 20 November 2009 19 November – The highest ever UK 24-hour rainfall total, 314.4 mm, is recorded at Seathwaite Farm, Cumbriahttp://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/2009/pr20091120.html http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20091209150732/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/2009/pr20091120.html dead 9 December 2009 Recent heavy rain over north-west Britain Met Office 20 November 2009 News Archive Met Office 21 November 2009 – a record which stands until December 2015. 20 November – Many towns and villages in Cumbria and Dumfries and Galloway are flooded following several days of heavy rain. Three bridges collapse, one of them leading to the death of a police officer standing on the bridge when it collapsed.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cumbria/8370692.stm Body found in floods search is missing policeman 20 November 2009 BBC News 20 November 2009 London https://web.archive.org/web/20091123100906/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/8370692.stm 23 November 2009 live 22 November – The latest MORI poll shows that the Conservatives are just six points ahead of Labour, their narrowest lead for two years, with 37% of the vote, which, if translated into election results, would force a hung parliament. Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has suggested his party would support the Tories if the election resulted in no overall majority.http://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/poll.aspx?oItemId=2516 Ipsos MORI November Political Monitor 23 November 2009 Ipsos MORI 3 January 2010http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6927353.ece Lib Dems to steer Cameron into No 10 if vote ends in hung Parliament 23 November 2009 The Times 3 January 2010 London Sam CoatesSeptember 2024 medicmedic November – With an average nationwide precipitation of 215.7 mm in 2 or, this is the wettest calendar month over the United Kingdom as a whole since reliable records begin in 1910.http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/pub/data/weather/uk/climate/datasets/Rainfall/ranked/UK.txt UK monthly rainfall ranked. December 2 December – The Winter Hill transmitting station has its remaining analogue signals turned off, completing the digital switchover process in the Granada Television region. 7 December – The Ministry of Defence announces the death in Afghanistan of a soldier from 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, taking the total number of British troops killed there in 2009 to 100https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8400444.stm UK soldier becomes 100th to die in Afghanistan in 2009 BBC News 7 December 2009 7 December 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091213124239/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8400444.stm 13 December 2009 live and the total number of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan since the conflict began (October 2001) to 237. 11 December – New Vauxhall Astra hits showrooms after its worldwide debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. 14 December – Cabin crew at British Airways vote overwhelmingly in favour of a planned 12 days of strike action over Christmas and the New Year in a dispute over job cuts and changes to staff contracts.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8411214.stm British Airways cabin crew vote for Christmas strike BBC News 14 December 2009 14 December 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091217041930/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8411214.stm 17 December 2009 live On 17 December the High Court rules that Unite, the representing trade union, had not correctly balloted its members on the strike action, meaning that the strikes could not go ahead.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8418805.stm British Airways cabin crew strike blocked BBC News 17 December 2009 17 December 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091218053341/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8418805.stm 18 December 2009 live 15 December – Paedophile nursery worker Vanessa George is jailed indefinitely after previously admitting to seven sexual assaults and six counts of making and distributing indecent pictures of children.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/8345756.stm Jail term for nursery abuse woman 15 December 2009 BBC News 16 December Scotland's largest airline, Flyglobespan, goes into administration.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8417183.stm Scotland's biggest airline goes bust BBC News 16 December 2009 17 December 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091217031847/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8417183.stm 17 December 2009 live ITV closes its news and information service on Teletext, leaving the ITV channel(s) without such a service for the first time in 35 years.https://news.bbc.co.uk/local/jersey/hi/tv_and_radio/newsid_8366000/8366937.stm BBC – Teletext to close mid-December BBC News 16 December 2009 1 February 2012 The England 2018 FIFA World Cup bidding team announce the 12 cities which will be part of their campaign to host the tournament. Wembley Stadium, Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, Manchester United's Old Trafford and Liverpool's Anfield or proposed new stadium are among the venues, as is the Stadium:mk in Milton Keynes which opened only in 2007.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/dec/16/england-2018-world-cup-cities London The Guardian Milton Keynes among winners as England 2018 host cities revealed 16 December 2009 18 September 2010 The latest unemployment figures show that UK unemployment is slowing, but now stands at the highest figure for 15 years – almost 2.5 million, equating to 8% of the workforce. The number of people claiming unemployment benefit, however, fell to 1.63 million in October, the first fall for nearly two years. Youth unemployment has increased to 952,000 – the highest level since records began 17 years ago.16 December 2009 Unemployment rise continues to slow BBC News https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8415683.stm live 29 December 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091217041550/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8415683.stm 17 December 2009 18 December Heavy snowfall causes widespread disruption across large parts of South East England, East Anglia, the East Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8420057.stm Heavy snow causes travel chaos in parts of England BBC News 18 December 2009 18 December 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20100131093323/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8420057.stm 31 January 2010 live After 27 years, Sir Terry Wogan presents his final breakfast show on BBC Radio 2.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8420157.stm Sir Terry Wogan bids farewell to show BBC News 18 December 2009 18 December 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091224064256/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8420157.stm 24 December 2009 live 20 December – The last MORI poll of the decade shows the Tories 17 points ahead of Labour on 43%, pointing towards a landslide and their first election win since 1992.http://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/poll.aspx?oItemId=2531 Poll – Ipsos MORI December Political Monitor Ipsos MORI 20 December 2009 3 January 2010 21 December – The leaders of the three main UK political parties agree to stage the first ever live televised election debates ahead of the 2010 general election.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8425280.stm Brown to face three televised election debates BBC News 21 December 2009 21 December 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20100116070454/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8425280.stm 16 January 2010 live 29 December – Akmal Shaikh becomes the first EU native to be executed in China in 50 years. Gordon Brown releases a statement indicating that he is appalled.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8433285.stm British man said to be mentally ill executed in China BBC News 29 December 2009 31 December 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091229051726/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8433285.stm 29 December 2009 live 30 December British hostage Peter Moore is released alive in Iraq following over two and a half years of captivity in Iraq and Iran.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8435075.stm UK hostage Peter Moore released alive in Iraq BBC News 30 December 2009 31 December 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091231030540/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8435075.stm 31 December 2009 live Three climbers are killed following three large avalanches in Scotland.https://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5goM5jhhBUYkvn5NImh-lWgObRy8A Three climbers die in avalanches The Press Association 30 December 2009 30 December 2009 June 2024 medicmedichttps://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8434825.stm Three climbers die in avalanches BBC News 30 December 2009 30 December 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091231045858/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8434825.stm 31 December 2009 live Undated More than 80% of the UK population (some 50 million people) now has internet access. New car sales drop to just under 2 million after exceeding 2.5 million in 2008, although the recession's effect on new car sales is eased by the scrappage scheme. The Ford Fiesta is Britain's best selling car, while the new version of the MINI (produced by BMW) is Britain's seventh best selling car with almost 40,000 sales. The new Vauxhall Insignia is Britain's ninth best selling car, while carmakers including Kia and Hyundai buck the trend of falling new car sales by increasing their market share largely due to the popularity of their cars with buyers taking advantage of the scrappage scheme. Publications A. S. Byatt's semi-biographical novel The Children's Book (awarded the James Tait Black Memorial Prize in fiction). Hilary Mantel's historical novel Wolf Hall (awarded the Man Booker Prize). Christopher Reid's poetry A Scattering (awarded the 2009 Costa Book Awards Book of the Year) Births 22 February – Archie Yates, actor 5 December – Owen Cooper, actor Deaths January thumb|upright|Dave Dee (far right) thumb|upright|Bill Stone 1 January – Edmund Purdom, actor (b. 1926) 3 January – Sir Alan Walters, economist (b. 1926) 9 January Dave Dee, singer/songwriter (b. 1941) T. Llew Jones, Welsh-language writer (b. 1915) David Smiley, Army colonel (b. 1916) 10 January Rob Gauntlett, record-breaking climber (b. 1987) Bill Stone, sailor, veteran of World Wars I and II (b. 1900) 11 January Bert Hazell, politician, MP for North Norfolk (1964–1970), oldest former MP (b. 1907) Vivian Ridler, printer and typographer (b. 1913) David Vine, television presenter (b. 1935) 13 January – Sir Dai Llweellyn, Bt., socialite (b. 1946) 14 January – Angela Morley (formerly Wally Stott), composer and conductor (b. 1924) 16 January – Sir John Mortimer, barrister, author and dramatist (b. 1923)https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2009/jan/16/mortimer-rumpole-dies-obituary Obituary: Sir John Mortimer The Guardian London 16 January 2009 Robertson Geoffrey 17 January – Edmund Leopold de Rothschild, financier (b. 1916) 18 January – Tony Hart, artist and television presenter (b. 1925) 20 January – Sheila Walsh, romantic novelist (b. 1928) 24 January Reg Gutteridge, boxing commentator (b. 1924) Diane Holland, actress (b. 1930) John Buchan Ross, Royal Air Force officer (b. 1912) 27 January – Michael Majerus, geneticist (b. 1954) 29 January Bill Frindall, cricket statistician (b. 1939) John Martyn, singer/songwriter (b. 1948) February thumb|upright|David Snow with his wife thumb|upright|Edward Upward 1 February Tim Grundy, radio and television presenter (b. 1958) Sir Alan Muir Wood, civil engineer (b. 1921) 2 February – Paul Birch, footballer (b. 1962) 4 February – David Snow, ornithologist (b. 1924) 7 February – Sir George Godber, physician and public servant, Chief Medical Officer (1960–1973) (b. 1908) 8 February Francis Dennis Ramsay, portrait painter (b. 1925) Terry Spencer, RAF fighter pilot and war photographer (b. 1918) 13 February Dilys Laye, actress (b. 1934) Edward Upward, writer (b. 1903) 14 February – Bernard Ashley, businessman (b. 1926) 17 February – Victor Kiernan, historian (b. 1913) 19 February – Kelly Groucutt, bass guitar player (Electric Light Orchestra) (b. 1945) 24 February – Edward Judd, actor (b. 1932, China) 25 February – Ian Carr, jazz musician and writer (b. 1933) 26 February – Wendy Richard, actress (b. 1943) 27 February Alastair McCorquodale, cricketer and athlete (b. 1925) John Francis Marchment Middleton, anthropologist (b. 1921) Geoffrey Smith, gardener and broadcaster (b. 1928) March thumb|upright|Brian Barry thumb|upright|Jade Goody 1 March – Joan Turner, actress and singer (b. 1922) 3 March – Barbara Wright, translator (b. 1915) 5 March – Francis Essex, television producer (b. 1929) 8 March – Ali Bongo, magician (b. 1929) 10 March Brian Barry, philosopher (b. 1936) Derek Benfield, actor (b. 1926) 12 March – David Wood, Army colonel and World War II veteran (b. 1923) 18 March – Natasha Richardson, actress (b. 1963) 21 March – Winifred Foley, writer (b. 1914) 22 March Jade Goody, television celebrity (b. 1981) John L. Harper, biologist (b. 1925) Geoffrey Sherman, Royal Marines officer (b. 1915) 24 March – Tim Brinton, broadcaster and politician (b. 1929) 26 March Edmund Lawson, barrister (b. 1948) John Mayhew, drummer (Genesis) (b. 1947) Bob Scott, ornithologist (b. 1938) 28 March – Hugh Kelly, footballer (Blackpool) (b. 1923) 31 March – Michael Cox, novelist (b. 1948) April thumb|upright|John Michell thumb|upright|Alan Bristow 1 April – Paul Dean, Baron Dean of Harptree, politician, Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons (1982–1992) (b. 1924) 5 April Sir Michael Giddings, RAF air marshal (b. 1920) I. J. Good, cryptologist (b. 1916) Sir Neil MacCormick, lawyer and politician (b. 1941) 8 April – Lennie Bennett, comedian and television presenter (b. 1938) 10 April – Richard Arnell, composer (b. 1917) 11 April – Simon Channing Williams, film producer (b. 1945) 12 April John Maddox, biologist and science writer (b. 1925) William Stanhope, 11th Earl of Harrington, peer (b. 1922) 14 April – Peter Rogers, film producer (b. 1914) 15 April – Sir Clement Freud, writer, broadcaster, politician and chef (b. 1924) 18 April Peter Dennis, actor (b. 1933) Edward George, Baron George, financier, Governor of the Bank of England (1993–2003) (b. 1938) 19 April – J. G. Ballard, author (b. 1930) 21 April – Jack Jones, trade union leader (b. 1913) 22 April Jack Cardiff, cinematographer and director (b. 1914) Ken Annakin, director (b. 1914) 24 April Margaret Gelling, toponymist (b. 1924) John Michell, author (b. 1933) 26 April – Alan Bristow, businessman (b. 1923) 27 April – Edwin McClellan, Japanologist (b. 1925, Japan) 28 April – U. A. Fanthorpe, poet (b. 1929) 30 April Maxime de la Falaise, model and actress (b. 1922) Venetia Phair (née Burney), teacher who named the planet Pluto (b. 1918) May thumb|upright|Norman Gash thumb|upright|Millvina Dean 1 May – Norman Gash, historian (b. 1912, India) 7 May Ian Cundy, Anglican prelate, Bishop of Peterborough (died in office) (b. 1945) Tony Marsh, racing driver (b. 1931) David Mellor, designer, manufacturer and retailer (b. 1930) Wayland Young, 2nd Baron Kennet, writer and politician (b. 1923) 9 May Cyril Hart, forestry expert (b. 1913) Ernest Millington, politician, last surviving World War II MP (b. 1916) 10 May – James Kirkup, poet, translator and travel writer (b. 1918) 11 May – Pat Booth, model and writer (b. 1943) 13 May – Joe Tandy, racing driver and team owner (car crash) (b. 1983) 19 May – Nicholas Maw, composer (b. 1935) 20 May Lucy Gordon, actress (b. 1980) Simon Oates, actor (b. 1932) 23 May – Nicholas J. Phillips, physicist (b. 1933) 27 May – Clive Granger, econometrician (b. 1934) 28 May – Terence Alexander, actor (b. 1923) 31 May Millvina Dean, last surviving RMS Titanic passenger (b. 1912)https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/8070095.stm UK | Last Titanic survivor dies at 97 BBC News 1 June 2009 1 February 2012 Danny La Rue, entertainer (b. 1927) June thumb|upright|Hugh Hopper thumb|upright|Peter Arundell 3 June – Peter Landin, computer scientist (b. 1930) 6 June – Charles Arnold-Baker, historian (b. 1918, Germany) 7 June Hugh Hopper, prog rock and jazz fusion bass guitarist (b. 1945) Peter Townsend, sociologist (b. 1928) 8 June – Matt Simpson, poet (b. 1936) 10 June – Tenniel Evans, actor (b. 1926) 11 June – Peter Wheeler, chemical engineer, owner of TVR (1981–2004) (b. 1944) 13 June – John Saville, Marxist historian (b. 1916) 16 June Peter Arundell, racing driver (b. 1933) Celia Fremlin, detective novelist (b. 1914) 17 June Ralf Dahrendorf, sociologist and political scientist (b. 1929, and d., in Germany) Patrick Dowling, television producer (b. 1919) 18 June – Sir Henry Hodge, solicitor and High Court judge (b. 1944) 19 June – Sir Derrick Bailey, baronet and cricketer (b. 1918) 20 June Colin Bean, actor (b. 1927) Godfrey Rampling, Olympic athlete (b. 1909) 22 June – Steve Race, pianist, composer and radio personality (b. 1921) 25 June – Brian Jones, poet (b. 1938) 27 June – Frank Barlow, historian (b. 1911) 30 June – Liam Fairhurst, charity fundraiser (b. 1995) July thumb|upright|Bleddyn Williams thumb|upright|Sir Bobby Robson 1 July David Pears, philosopher (b. 1921) Mollie Sugden, actress (b. 1922)https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8129617.stm Entertainment | Actress Mollie Sugden dies at 86 BBC News 2 July 2009 1 February 2012 2 July – David Morley, paediatrician (b. 1923) 4 July – Hugh Millais, actor and author (b. 1929) 6 July Johnny Collins, folk singer (b. 1938) Jim Reid, folk musician (b. 1934) Bleddyn Williams, rugby union player (b. 1923) 8 July – Edgar O'Ballance, military journalist (b. 1918) 9 July – George Haig, 2nd Earl Haig, soldier and peer (b. 1918) 10 July – Sir Edward Downes, orchestral conductor (b. 1924) 12 July James Klass, radio DJ (b. 1965) Christopher Prout, Baron Kingsland, lawyer and politician (b. 1942) 13 July – Vince Powell, scriptwriter (b. 1928) 17 July Leszek Kołakowski, philosopher (b. 1927, Poland) Gordon Waller, musician (b. 1945) 18 July Henry Allingham, World War I veteran and world's oldest living man (b. 1896) Jill Balcon, actress and wife of Cecil Day-Lewis (b. 1925) Denis Redman, Army major-general (b. 1910) 19 July – Henry Surtees, racing driver (accident) (b. 1991) 22 July – John Ryan, cartoonist, creator of Captain Pugwash (b. 1921) 24 July – Harry Towb, actor (b. 1925) 25 July Ken Major, architect (b. 1928) Stanley Middleton, novelist (b. 1919) Harry Patch, World War I veteran and Europe's oldest living man (b. 1898) 31 July Sir Bobby Robson, football manager (b. 1933) Harry Alan Towers, screenwriter (b. 1920) August thumb|upright|Stanley Robertson 2 August – Stanley Robertson, folk singer and storyteller (b. 1940) 3 August – Christopher Elrington, historian (b. 1930) 6 August Helen Brotherton, conservationist (b. 1914) Charles Townsend Harrison, art historian (b. 1942) 8 August – Harold Hitchcock, painter (b. 1914) 13 August – John Bentley, actor (b. 1916) 14 August – Frank Branston, journalist and Mayor of Bedford (died in office) (b. 1939) 15 August – John Stroud, television director (b. 1955) 16 August – Laurie Rowley, comedy writer (b. 1941) 19 August – Paul Ashbee, archaeologist (b. 1918) 21 August – Edward Goldsmith, environmentalist and philosopher (b. 1928) 26 August – Sadie Corré, actress and tap dancer (b. 1918) 29 August – Simon Dee, television interviewer and radio disc jockey (b. 1935) 31 August – Frederick Gore, artist (b. 1913) September thumb|upright|Brian Barron thumb|upright|Piers Merchant 1 September – Jake Drake-Brockman, musician (Echo & The Bunnymen) and sound recordist (road accident) (b. 1955) 2 September Donald Hamilton Fraser, painter (b. 1929) John Poole, sculptor (b. 1926) 4 September Iain Cuthbertson, actor (b. 1930) Keith Waterhouse, writer (b. 1929) 7 September – Colin Sharp, actor and singer/songwriter (b. 1953) 13 September – Felix Bowness, actor (b. 1922) 14 September Keith Floyd, TV chef (heart attack) (b. 1943) Bobby Graham, session drummer (b. 1940) 16 September Brian Barron, journalist and war correspondent (b. 1940) Timothy Bateson, actor (b. 1926) John Littlewood, chess player (b. 1931) 21 September Michael Lockett, soldier (killed in action in Afghanistan) (b. 1980) Piers Merchant, politician (b. 1951) 26 September – W. I. B. Crealock, yacht designer (b. 1920) 30 September – Robert S. Baker, television producer (b. 1916) October thumb|upright|Robert Kirby thumb|upright|Maurice Agis (centre) 1 October – James FitzRoy, Earl of Euston, heir to the Duke of Grafton (b. 1947) 2 October – Shaun Wylie, mathematician and World War II codebreaker (b. 1913) 3 October – Robert Kirby, folk rock music arranger (b. 1948) 4 October – Fred Kaan, clergyman and hymn writer (b. 1929, the Netherlands) 5 October – Hugh Lloyd-Jones, classical scholar (b. 1922) 7 October – Helen Watts, contralto (b. 1927) 9 October – Barry Letts, actor and television director (b. 1925) 12 October Maurice Agis, sculptor (b. 1931) Ian Wallace, bass-baritone opera singer (b. 1919) 17 October Louisa Mark, lovers rock singer (b. 1960) Brian Campbell Vickery, information scientist (b. 1918 in Australia) 18 October – Sir Ludovic Kennedy, author, journalist and campaigner (b. 1919)https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/oct/19/ludovic-kennedy-dies-89 Ludovic Kennedy, veteran presenter and campaigner, dies at 89 Caroline Davies 19 October 2009 The Guardian London 21 October Louise Cooper, novelist (b. 1952) Lionel Davidson, novelist (b. 1922) Clinton Ford, singer (b. 1931) 25 October – Alexander Piatigorsky, philosopher (b. 1929, Soviet Union) 27 October – David Shepherd, cricketer and umpire (b. 1940) 29 October – Norman Painting, radio actor (The Archers) (b. 1924) November thumb|upright|Robert Holdstock 2 November – Leonard Steinberg, Baron Steinberg, businessman and life peer (b. 1936) 3 November – John Crofton, medical pioneer (b. 1912) 4 November – David Tree, actor (b. 1915) 7 November – Chris Harman, journalist and activist (b. 1942) 8 November – Malcolm Laycock, radio presenter and producer (b. 1938) 10 November – Anne Mustoe, teacher, cyclist and travel writer (b. 1933) 15 November Derek B, rapper (b. 1965) Anna Mendelssohn, writer, poet and activist (b. 1948) 16 November Jeff Clyne, jazz bassist (b. 1937) Edward Woodward, actor (b. 1930) 17 November John Craxton, painter (b. 1922) Mickey Dias, barrister and legal scholar (b. 1921, Ceylon) 18 November – Johnny Almond, saxophonist (b. 1946) 21 November – Edward Fennessy, electronics engineer (b. 1912) 28 November – Eric Kemp, Anglican prelate and theologian, Bishop of Chichester (1974–2001) (b. 1915) 30 November – Robert Holdstock, novelist (b. 1948) December thumb|upright|Richard Todd thumb|upright|Vera Rich 1 December – Cordelia Oliver, Scottish journalist, painter and art critic (b. 1923)Grigor Murray Cordelia Oliver obituary https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2010/jan/26/cordelia-oliver-obituary The Guardian London 3 November 2022 en 26 January 2010 2 December Maggie Jones, actress (b. 1934) Eric Woolfson, musician (b. 1945) 3 December Sam Salt, RN rear-admiral and Falklands War veteran (b. 1940) Richard Todd, actor (b. 1919) 4 December Stephen Toulmin, philosopher (b. 1922) Francis Wilford-Smith, cartoonist (b. 1927) 5 December – Garfield Morgan, actor (b. 1931) 10 December Sir John Gingell, RAF air marshal, Black Rod (1985–1992) (b. 1925) Sir Alan Huggins, judge (b. 1921) 14 December – Alan A'Court, footballer (b. 1934) 16 December T. G. H. James, Egyptologist (b. 1923) Paddy Ridsdale, Lady Ridsdale, politician and World War II agent (b. 1921) 17 December – Samuel Victor Perry, biochemist (b. 1918) 18 December – Robin Wood, film critic (b. 1931) 20 December Pete King, saxophonist (b. 1929) Vera Rich, poet and translator (b. 1936) 21 December Craigie Aitchison, painter (b. 1926) Marianne Stone, actress (b. 1921) 24 December – George Cowling, meteorologist and first BBC television weatherman (b. 1920) 26 December – David Taylor, politician (b. 1946) See also 2009 in British music 2009 in British television List of British films of 2009 References 2009 2009 in the United Kingdom Category:Years of the 21st century in the United Kingdom United Kingdom United Kingdom