2015 in the United Kingdom

none July 2024 December 2014 2015 Countries of the United Kingdom England Northern Ireland Scotland Wales Popular culture Football: England Scotland Wales 2015 British Grand Prix2015 British motorcycle Grand Prix 2015 English cricket season 2015 in British television 2015 in British music 2015 in British radio UK in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 Events from the year 2015 in the United Kingdom. Incumbents Monarch – Elizabeth II Prime Minister – David Cameron (Coalition until 8 May; Conservative starting 8 May) Events January 2 January – Buckingham Palace denies "any suggestion of impropriety with underage minors" by Prince Andrew, Duke of York, after he was named in U.S. court documents related to a lawsuit against convicted sex offender, American financier Jeffrey Epstein.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30659629 Prince Andrew sex case claim denied BBC BBC News 2 January 2015 2 January 2015 3 January – Eight people are reported missing after a cargo vessel, the Cemfjord, capsizes in the Pentland Firth, Scotland.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-30667084 Major search after ship overturns off north of Scotland BBC BBC News 3 January 2015 4 January 2015https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-30670842 Cemfjord survivor chances said to be 'very slim' BBC BBC News 4 January 2015 4 January 2015 4 January – The Höegh Osaka, a Singaporean cargo ship transporting luxury cars, runs aground near the Isle of Wight after it started listing shortly after leaving the Port of Southampton.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-30670746 Crew rescued from listing Solent car transporter BBC BBC News 4 January 2015 5 January 2015 An investigation is launched.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-30677320 Cargo ship Solent: Salvage team boards stranded vessel BBC BBC News 5 January 2015 5 January 2015 6 January Figures from the last three months show that England's hospital Accident & Emergency waiting time performance has dropped to its worst levels for a decade.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/health-30692497 A&E waiting in England worst for a decade BBC BBC News 6 January 2015 7 January 2015 Comedian and actor Stephen Fry confirms he is to marry his partner, Elliott Spencer.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-30693048 Stephen Fry to marry partner Elliott Spencer BBC BBC News 6 January 2015 6 January 2015 The couple are married two weeks later at a registry office in Norfolk.Nadia Khomami https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/jan/17/stephen-fry-elliott-spencer-marries-twitter Stephen Fry marries partner Elliot Spencer The Guardian 17 January 2015 13 February 2015 7 January – The SMMT announce that car sales surged in 2014 with 2.47 million new cars registered; a 9% increase from 2013 and the best annual performance since 2004.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30706580 UK new car sales surge to 10-year high in 2014 BBC BBC News 7 January 2015 7 January 2015 9 January Hurricane-force winds cause travel disruption and leave tens of thousands of homes without power across Scotland.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-30726678 Hurricane-force gusts cause disruption to power and travel BBC BBC News 9 January 2015 9 January 2015 Circle Holdings, the first private company to operate an NHS hospital, announces plans to withdraw from its contract to run Hinchingbrooke Hospital because it believes the franchise is "no longer viable under current terms".https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-30740956 Hinchingbrooke Hospital: Circle to withdraw from contract BBC BBC News 9 January 2015 9 January 2015 Chancellor George Osborne says that tackling terrorism is a "national priority" and security services will get all of the resources they need in light of the recent Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris, and the MI5 confirming that three UK plots had been recently stopped.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30740614 Osborne: Tackling UK terror threat a "national priority" BBC BBC News 9 January 2015 9 January 2015 Abu Hamza, the former head of London's Finsbury Park Mosque who preached Islamic terrorism, is sentenced to life in prison by a US court.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-30754959 Radical cleric Abu Hamza jailed for life by US court BBC BBC News 9 January 2015 9 January 2015thumb|Montage of Trafalgar Square and London Bridge being lit up in the colours of the French flag 11 January – Major London landmarks, including Trafalgar Square and Tower Bridge, are lit in the colours of the French national flag in tribute to the victims of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30766218 Paris attacks: London landmarks lit in French colours BBC BBC News 11 January 2015 11 January 2015 12 January 19-year-old Lewis Daynes who murdered 14-year-old Breck Bednar in February 2014 after meeting him online, is sentenced to life in prison.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-30786021 Breck Bednar murder: Lewis Daynes sentenced to life in prison BBC BBC News 12 January 2015 12 January 2015 Security chiefs meet with David Cameron to review the risk of a terrorist attack, similar to the recent attacks in Paris, as the likelihood of such an event becomes greater.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30772035 Cameron discusses risk of Paris-style attack in UK BBC BBC News 12 January 2015 12 January 2015 David Cameron brands Fox News' terror expert a "complete idiot" after he claims that Birmingham is "totally Muslim" and "non-Muslims just simply don't go in".https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/11340399/David-Cameron-US-terror-expert-Steve-Emerson-is-a-complete-idiot.html David Cameron: US terror 'expert' Steve Emerson is a 'complete idiot' 28 January 2021 Daily Telegraph 12 January 2015 Matthew Holehouse 13 January – Figures show that inflation rates fell to 0.5% in December, the joint lowest on record, mainly due to the drop in fuel prices.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30794673 UK inflation rate falls to 0.5% in December BBC BBC News 13 January 2015 13 January 2015 14 January The Met Office warns that a storm, dubbed "Storm Rachel", will bring snow, ice, rain, floods and gale-force winds to the UK.Turner Camilla https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/weather/11341325/Everything-you-need-to-know-about-Storm-Rachel.html Everything you need to know about 'Storm Rachel' The Daily Telegraph 14 January 2015 14 January 2015 This is after severe heavy snow and gales hit Scotland, and a tornado struck homes in Wales the previous night.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30804065 Snow and gales bring disruption to UK BBC BBC News 14 January 2015 14 January 2015 Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage, the leaders respectively of Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the UK Independence Party, write to Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader David Cameron to say that they will still take part in the planned pre-election televised debates even if he is not present. Cameron had said he would not take part unless the Green Party was included, but the other leaders call for the various broadcasters holding the debates to include an empty podium, enabling Cameron to be included if he changes his mind.Rowena Mason https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jan/14/pressure-on-cameron-over-tv-debates David Cameron under growing pressure over TV debates The Guardian 14 January 2015 14 January 2015 15 January A set of council offices, a funeral parlour, and a thatched cottage are extensively damaged after they are set ablaze due to a spate of arson attacks in South Oxfordshire.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-30826330 Arson attack guts Oxfordshire District Council building BBC BBC News 15 January 2015 15 January 2015 A suspect is arrested.Weaver Matthew https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jan/15/oxfordshire-fires-believed-work-arsonists-district-council Suspected arsonist held over Oxfordshire fires The Guardian 15 January 2015 15 January 2015 Ethel Lang, the last person living in the UK who was born during the reign of Queen Victoria, dies aged 114.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-30845570 Britain's oldest person Ethel Lang dies aged 114 BBC 16 January 2015 16 January 2015 16 January – UK counter-terrorism police warn that members of the Jewish community could be at risk following the recent terror incidents in Paris.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30854519 BBC News Paris attacks: UK police 'concerned' for Jewish community BBC 16 January 2015 16 January 2015 21 January Sir John Chilcot says that his report into the Iraq war will be published after the general election. A draft version has been completed, but time is needed for those criticised by the findings of the inquiry to respond.Patrick Wintour Frances Perraudin Nicholas Watt https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jan/21/chilcott-summoned-parliament-iraq-war-report-delays Chilcot confirms delay to publication of Iraq war report The Guardian 21 January 2015 21 January 2015 The Sun defiantly denies that it is to cease publishing topless women on Page 3 after posting a preview of its next publication featuring topless model Nicole Neal, calling the recent absence of the feature a "mammary lapse".Justin Harp http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a623363/the-sun-defiantly-denies-banning-page-3-topless-photos.html#~p23aFtj1pA3jsG The Sun defiantly denies banning Page 3 topless photos Hearst Magazines UK Digital Spy 21 January 2015 22 January 2015 23 January – New proposals are published by the UK's major broadcasters to include the leaders of more political parties in the forthcoming televised debates. The BBC and ITV will now host seven-way debates between the leaders of the Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats, UK Independence Party, the Green Party, the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru. Meanwhile, Channel 4 and Sky will host head-to-head debates between David Cameron and Ed Miliband.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30955379 Election 2015: Seven-party TV debate plan announced BBC BBC News 23 January 2015 23 January 2015 24 January David Cameron and Prince Charles fly to Saudi Arabia to pay respects to the late King Abdullah who died the previous day.Andrew Sparrow Frances Perraudin https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jan/24/prince-charles-and-pm-fly-to-saudi-amid-growing-row-over-uk-flag-tributes Prince Charles and PM fly to Saudi amid growing row over UK flag tributes The Guardian 24 January 2015 24 January 2015 UK Independence Party MEP Amjad Bashir defects to the Conservative Party, describing his former party as one of "ruthless self-interest". In response, UKIP claims Bashir was suspended from the party over "extremely serious" financial issues, something Bashir dismisses as "absurd and made-up allegations".Lin Jenkins https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jan/24/ukip-amjad-bashir-defects-conservatives UKIP MEP Amjad Bashir defects to the Conservatives The Guardian 24 January 2015 24 January 2015 26 January – Libby Lane becomes the first woman ordained as a bishop in the Church of England (suffragan Bishop of Stockport), at York Minster.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30974547 Libby Lane: First female Church of England bishop consecrated BBC BBC News 26 January 2015 26 January 2015 27 January – Helen Macdonald wins the 2014 Costa Book Awards with her autobiographical H is for Hawk.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-31009421 Helen Macdonald wins Costa Book of the Year 2014 BBC BBC News 27 January 2015 27 January 2015 28 January – An earthquake of magnitude 3.8 is felt across the East Midlands.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31032930 East Midlands tremor recorded at 3.8 in magnitude BBC BBC News 29 January 2015 29 January 2015 30 January – Commemorations are made for the fiftieth anniversary of Sir Winston Churchill's funeral, including a church service at Westminster Abbey, and the retracing of the same boat journey that carried Churchill's coffin along the River Thames in 1965.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31041370 Sir Winston Churchill's funeral marked 50 years on BBC BBC News 30 January 2015 30 January 2015 31 January – The head of the Police Federation of England and Wales expresses his controversial support for all front-line police officers in England and Wales to be offered Tasers in light of the increased terrorism threat to the UK.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31071922 'Tasers for all front-line officers' – Police Federation BBC BBC News 31 January 2015 31 January 2015 February 2 February – London's population hits a record high of 8,600,000 which it hasn't seen since the beginning of the Second World War in 1939, and is forecast to reach 11,000,000 people by 2050.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-31082941 London's population hits 8.6m record high BBC BBC News 2 February 2015 2 February 2015 3 February – MPs approve a controversial new technique to allow babies created from three people. If passed by the House of Lords, the UK will become the first country in the world to offer this medical procedure.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-31069173 MPs say yes to three-person babies BBC BBC News 3 February 2015 3 February 2015 4 February The entire cabinet of Rotherham Borough Council announces its intention to resign from office, following a report into the Rotherham child sexual exploitation scandal concludes the council's handling of the scandal was "not fit for purpose".Helen Pidd https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/feb/04/rotherham-council-denial-child-sexual-exploitation-failures-report Rotherham council cabinet to resign after damning child exploitation report The Guardian 4 February 2015 4 February 2015 Home Secretary Theresa May appoints New Zealand judge Lowell Goddard to lead a new statutory inquiry into historical child sexual abuse.David Barrett https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11388962/New-Zealand-judge-set-to-chair-child-abuse-inquiry.html New Zealand judge Lowell Goddard to chair child abuse inquiry The Daily Telegraph 4 February 2015 4 February 2015 5 February – Former pop star Gary Glitter is found guilty of sexually abusing three young girls between 1975 and 1980.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31153633 Gary Glitter trial: Singer guilty of historical sex abuse BBC BBC News 5 February 2015 5 February 2015 6 February Huge changes to England's NHS in recent years have been "disastrous" and distracted from patient care, a report by the King's Fund says.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-31145600 NHS reorganisation was disastrous, says King's Fund BBC BBC News 6 February 2015 6 February 2015 The Investigatory Powers Tribunal rules that GCHQ breached human rights laws by failing to disclose shared full details of information it shared with the United States that was garnered from data from mass internet surveillance.Owen Bowcott https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/feb/06/gchq-mass-internet-surveillance-unlawful-court-nsa UK-US surveillance regime was unlawful 'for seven years' The Guardian 6 February 2015 6 February 2015 9 February – A child and three adults are killed whilst four others are left seriously injured after a tipper truck crashes down a hill in Bath.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-31321186 Bath tipper truck crash kills child and three adults BBC BBC News 9 February 2015 10 February 2015 An investigation is launched.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-31339654 Bath fatal tipper truck crash investigated BBC BBC News 10 February 2015 10 February 2015 11 February – The government announces a review into road regulations and maintenance checks in preparation for driverless car technology.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-31364441 Driverless car review launched by UK government BBC BBC News 11 February 2015 11 February 2015 13 February Former TV weather presenter Fred Talbot is convicted of indecently assaulting two boys while he worked at a school in Greater Manchester, and remanded in custody to await sentence. He is cleared of a further eight charges.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-31456840 Fred Talbot: Weatherman guilty of abusing teenage boys BBC BBC News 13 February 2015 13 February 2015 The Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition sign a cross-party, non-partisan agreement to tackle climate change, seek a strong global climate deal, and to end the use of coal for power generation in the UK.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31456161 Party leaders make joint climate commitment BBC 14 February 2015 14 February 2015http://www.green-alliance.org.uk/leaders_joint_climate_change_agreement.php Cameron, Clegg and Miliband sign joint climate change agreement Green Alliance 14 February 2015 14 February 2015 14 February 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150214141600/http://www.green-alliance.org.uk/leaders_joint_climate_change_agreement.php dead 14 February – Four people are killed following two separate accidents on major motorways; three die after a coach collides with a stationary car on the M1 and one person dies in a forty vehicle pileup on the M40.http://news.sky.com/story/1427453/four-die-in-coach-crash-and-motorway-pile-up Four Die In Coach Crash And Motorway Pile-Up British Sky Broadcasting Sky News 14 February 2015 14 February 2015 16 February – A study by King's College London indicates an increased risk of psychosis among those who smoke potent cannabis.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-31480234 'Skunk-like cannabis' increases risk of psychosis, study suggests BBC BBC News 16 February 2015 16 February 2015 17 February Consumer price inflation fell to 0.3% in January, according to latest official figures, its lowest level since records began.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-31501805 UK inflation rate falls to record low of 0.3% in January BBC BBC News 17 February 2015 18 February 2015 Abid Naseer, a man who plotted a terrorist attack on a shopping centre in Manchester in 2009, which would have reportedly only come second to the September 11 attacks in its impact, stands trial in the United States.http://www.itv.com/news/2015-02-17/man-who-plotted-manchester-terror-attack-goes-on-trial-in-us/ Man 'who plotted Manchester terror attack' goes on trial in US ITV ITV News 17 February 2015 17 February 2015 Five Britons are announced to be amongst the 100 Mars One applicants shortlisted for a one-way trip to Mars to become the first humans to set foot on the planet.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/space/11416615/Mars-One-mission-5-Britons-shortlisted-for-one-way-trip-to-Red-Planet.html Mars One mission: five Britons shortlisted for one-way trip to Red Planet The Daily Telegraph 17 February 2015 17 February 2015 18 February – The Metropolitan Police says it will examine video footage appearing to show fans of Chelsea football club preventing a black man from boarding a train on the Paris Metro.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31520745 Chelsea fans Paris footage examined by UK police BBC BBC News 18 February 2015 18 February 2015 20 February – Police appeal for help after it is feared that three London schoolgirls who have gone missing, are travelling to Turkey with the intention of crossing the border into Syria and joining a terror group ISIL.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/11424884/Three-missing-British-schoolgirls-travel-to-Syria.html Three missing London schoolgirls 'travelling to Syria to join Isil' The Daily Telegraph 20 February 2015 21 February 2015 21 February – The government pledges £300,000,000 for tackling dementia, aiming to become a "world leader" in research with a global fund to produce new treatments by 2025.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-31557377 Alzheimer's charity hails one million 'dementia friends' BBC BBC News 21 February 2015 22 February 2015https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/elder/11426850/David-Cameron-announces-300m-for-dementia-research.html https://web.archive.org/web/20150221215351/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/elder/11426850/David-Cameron-announces-300m-for-dementia-research.html dead 21 February 2015 David Cameron announces £300m for dementia research BBC The Telegraph 21 February 2015 22 February 2015 24 February – Conservative MP Sir Malcolm Rifkind resigns as Chair of the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee, and announces he will vacate his seat at the general election, following a cash for access scandal.Lamiat Sabin https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/cash-for-access-scandal-sir-malcolm-rifkind-to-step-down-as-mp-for-kensington-and-chelsea-10066651.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/cash-for-access-scandal-sir-malcolm-rifkind-to-step-down-as-mp-for-kensington-and-chelsea-10066651.html 1 May 2022 subscription live 'Cash for access scandal': Sir Malcolm Rifkind to step down as MP for Kensington Independent Print Limited The Independent 24 February 2015 25 February 2015 26 February An independent report finds that Jimmy Savile sexually abused 63 people connected to Stoke Mandeville Hospital between 1968 and 1992, but the one formal complaint made was ignored.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31637320 Saville 'abused 63 people at Stoke Mandeville Hospital' BBC BBC News 26 February 2015 27 February 2015 The masked Islamic State militant known as "Jihadi John", responsible for the beheadings of numerous Western hostages, is named as Mohammed Emwazi from West London.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31637090 'Jihadi John' named as Mohammed Emwazi from London BBC BBC News 26 February 2015 27 February 2015 27 February – Following his guilty verdict on 5 February, former pop star Gary Glitter is sentenced to sixteen year's imprisonment.https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-31657929 Gary Glitter jailed for 16 years BBC BBC News 27 February 2015 27 February 2015 March 3 March – Disgraced entertainer Rolf Harris is stripped of his British honours. 4 March – The stepbrother of 16-year-old Becky Watts, a schoolgirl reported missing two weeks previously, is charged with her murder after body parts are found at a house in Barton Hill, Bristol.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-31737528 Stepbrother charged with Becky Watts murder in Bristol BBC BBC News 4 March 2015 4 March 2015 5 March – David Cameron is accused of "cowering" from the public as he confirms that he will only take part in one televised debate ahead of the general election, rejecting proposals for a head-to-head with Labour leader Ed Miliband.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31745808 Cameron denies 'running scared' of TV election debates BBC BBC News 5 March 2015 5 March 2015 6 March A 13-year-old boy pleads guilty to the murder of 53-year-old Christopher Barry who was fatally stabbed in Edmonton, London, in December.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-31770240 Boy, 13, admits Christopher Barry party row murder BBC BBC News 6 March 2015 6 March 2015 The UK's major broadcasters confirm they will press ahead with plans for three televised debates, even though David Cameron said he would only participate in one of them.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31771198 BBC News TV election debates will 'go ahead' say broadcasters BBC 6 March 2015 6 March 2015 7 March Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg says he will take David Cameron's place in the forthcoming television debates, if Cameron is unwilling to participate.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31778343 BBC News Nick Clegg: Conservatives 'arrogant' over TV debates BBC 7 March 2015 7 March 2015 A pitch invasion by Aston Villa fans temporarily halts the club's FA Cup quarter-final match against West Bromwich Albion. Several fans run onto the pitch during stoppage time to prematurely celebrate Villa's 2–0 victory over West Brom, forcing referee Anthony Taylor to stop the game until order is restored, before hundreds of fans then invade the pitch on the final whistle. The incident will be investigated by the Football Association.Jason Burt https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/11457075/Aston-Villa-pitch-invasion-to-spark-Football-Association-investigation.html Aston Villa pitch invasion to spark Football Association investigation The Daily Telegraph 7 March 2015 8 March 2015McNulty Phil https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/31669806 BBC Sport Aston Villa 2-0 West Bromwich Albion BBC 7 March 2015 8 March 2015 8 March – Ed Miliband says that a future Labour government would introduce legislation to make televised debates a permanent feature of future general election campaigns, meaning politicians could not attempt to prevent them from taking place out of self-interest.Toby Helm https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/07/ed-miliband-leaders-tv-debates-guarantee-law Ed Miliband: I will pass new law to guarantee TV election debates Guardian Media Group The Observer 8 March 2015 8 March 2015 9 March The UK Government finally pays off War Loan bonds, originally introduced to consolidate debt incurred in fighting World War I.https://www.cnbc.com/2015/03/09/uk-finally-finishes-paying-for-world-war-i.html 28 January 2021 CNBC 9 March 2015 Jenny Cosgrave UK finally finishes paying for World War I Thendara Satisfaction, an Irish Setter who competed at this year's Crufts, dies after being supposedly poisoned at the Birmingham show.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-31792152 BBC News 'No doubt' Crufts dog Jagger was poisoned, says owner BBC 9 March 2015 9 March 2015 Organisers of the event say sabotage will not be tolerated, after rumours that various other dogs were also poisoned this year.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-31807943 BBC News 'No tolerance' vow after Crufts dog Jagger dies BBC 9 March 2015 9 March 2015thumb|Britannia cruise ship (pictured in 2021) 10 March TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson is suspended from Top Gear, one of the BBC's most popular and profitable shows, following a "fracas" with a producer. The remainder of the series will be scrapped, the BBC says.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-31824040 Jeremy Clarkson, Top Gear host, suspended by BBC after 'fracas' BBC BBC News 10 March 2015 11 March 2015https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-31828184 Jeremy Clarkson 'punch': Top Gear episodes to be dropped BBC BBC News 11 March 2015 11 March 2015 Queen Elizabeth II names the new luxury cruise ship Britannia, the largest ever cruise ship designed for the British holiday market.10 March 2015 Cruise ship Britannia: Queen names P&O luxury vessel BBC News BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-31802613 10 March 2015 11 March – The government announces the first NHS patients to be diagnosed through genome sequencing.https://www.gov.uk/government/news/first-patients-diagnosed-through-genome-sequencing First patients diagnosed through genome sequencing Department of Health 11 March 2015 14 March 2015 13 March – Following his guilty verdict on 13 February, former TV weather presenter Fred Talbot is sentenced to five years in prison.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-31874576 Fred Talbot: Ex-weatherman jailed for schoolboy abuse BBC BBC News 13 March 2015 13 March 2015 15 March – Northampton Greyfriars bus station is demolished.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-31889521 Northampton Greyfriars bus station demolished BBC BBC News 15 March 2015 26 January 2024 17 March Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield admits that his failure to shut a tunnel to football terraces was the direct cause of ninety-six deaths at the Hillsborough disaster in 1989.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31928476 Hillsborough inquests: David Duckenfield admits causing 96 deaths BBC BBC News 17 March 2015 17 March 2015 David Cameron confirms he has accepted an offer from the major broadcasters to participate in a seven-way televised debate at the beginning of April. However, the full details of this are yet to be confirmed.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31928638 BBC News David Cameron 'accepts single multi-party TV debate offer' BBC 17 March 2015 17 March 2015 19 March – One Briton is confirmed to be amongst the twenty-one victims killed in the ISIL backed Bardo National Museum shootings in the Tunisian capital, Tunis.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31961338 Tunis museum attack: Briton killed in shootings named as Sally Adey BBC BBC News 19 March 2015 19 March 2015 20 March A partial solar eclipse occurs, ranging from 85% totality in London and southern England to 98% totality in northern Scotland.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31965456 'Breathtaking' solar eclipse witnessed by millions BBC 20 March 2015 20 March 2015 UKIP MEP and general election candidate Janice Atkinson is suspended from the UK Independence Party after a member of her staff tried to overcharge EU expenses for a restaurant bill. The incident emerges as another UKIP election candidate, Stephen Howe, is suspended amid harassment allegations, and a third, Jonathan Stanley, resigns from the party because of what he alleges to be its "open racism and sanctimonious bullying."https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31983197 BBC News UKIP in turmoil over general election candidates BBC 20 March 2015 20 March 2015 21 March – The UK's major broadcasters say they have agreed to hold a seven-party televised leaders debate on 2 April, which will be staged by ITV and chaired by Julie Etchingham. However, there will be no head-to-head between David Cameron and Ed Miliband, with them instead taking part in a separate question and answer session aired jointly by Sky News and Channel 4 on 26 March. A debate featuring five opposition leaders will air on BBC One on 16 April.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32001383 BBC News Election debates agreement reached BBC 21 March 2015 21 March 2015 22 March – Membership of the Scottish National Party officially crosses the 100,000 mark, meaning that one in every fifty of the Scottish population is now a member.http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/scottish-politics/snp-boost-as-membership-soars-past-100k-mark.1427009904 Glasgow Herald SNP boost as membership soars past 100k mark Newsquest 22 March 2015 22 March 2015 23 March Afzal Amin, the Conservative candidate for Dudley North, resigns from the party after being accused of allegedly conspiring with the English Defence League to win votes.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32024045 Afzal Amin resigns as Conservative candidate in Dudley North BBC News BBC 23 March 2015 23 March 2015 David Cameron tells BBC News he will not serve a third term as prime minister if the Conservatives are re-elected in the upcoming general election.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32022484 David Cameron 'won't serve third term' if re-elected BBC News BBC 23 March 2015 23 March 2015 Janice Atkinson is expelled from UKIP for "bringing the party into disrepute".https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32028343 UKIP's Janice Atkinson expelled from party BBC News BBC 23 March 2015 23 March 2015 24 March – UK inflation fell to zero per cent in February, the lowest level since records began, according to official figures.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32031473 UK inflation rate falls to zero in February BBC News BBC 24 March 2015 24 March 2015 25 March It is confirmed that three Britons were among those killed when an Airbus A320 crashed into the French Alps the previous day, with no survivors.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32047308 Alps air crash killed three Britons, says Hammond BBC 25 March 2015 25 March 2015 Following a two-week investigation into a verbal and physical attack on producer Oisin Tymon, the BBC confirms that Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has been sacked from the programme.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-32052736 Jeremy Clarkson dropped from Top Gear, BBC confirms BBC 25 March 2015 25 March 2015 26 March – The order of succession to the British throne is changed to absolute primogeniture, in accordance with the 2011 Perth Agreement and the Succession to the Crown Act 2013. The change also applies in the Commonwealth realms. Marrying a Roman Catholic no longer disqualifies a person from succeeding to the Crown.Succession to the Crown Act 2013. 29 March – Police are investigating alleged death threats against BBC Director-General Tony Hall over the decision to sack Jeremy Clarkson from his Top Gear presenting role.Mark Tran https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/mar/29/top-gear-police-death-threats-bbc-boss Top Gear fracas: police investigate alleged death threats against BBC boss The Guardian 29 March 2015 29 March 2015 April 1 April – English Heritage begins to operate as a charitable trust to manage the nation's portfolio of historic properties, while Historic England is formed to take on its previous functions in statutory planning, advice on and protection of the historic built environment. 2 April – The only televised leaders debate to include Prime Minister David Cameron is aired by ITV. The debate features the leaders of the Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats, UKIP, the Greens, the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-32173154 Leaders' debate attracts seven million viewers BBC News BBC 3 April 2015 3 April 2015 2–7 April – An estimated £200,000,000 worth of jewels are stolen from Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Ltd, Hatton Garden central London, in a meticulously planned heist that takes place over the Easter bank holiday weekend. CCTV footage later emerges, at the website of UK newspaper the Daily Mirror, showing the thieves dressed as building workers and using wheelie bins. 10 April – Police are investigating after it emerged that they received an emergency call from the scene of the Hatton Garden safety deposit raid, but decided not to respond.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-32253724 Hatton Garden raid: Police failed to respond BBC News BBC 10 April 2015 10 April 2015 11 April Many Clouds, ridden by Leighton Aspell, wins the 2015 Grand National.Gheerbrant James https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/32266302 BBC Sport Grand National 2015: Many Clouds wins as McCoy finishes fifth BBC 11 April 2015 11 April 2015 This is Aspell's second consecutive Grand National win after riding Pineau de Re to victory the previous year. Oxford beat Cambridge in the first Women's Boat Race to be rowed on the same course on the same day as the men's race (which Oxford also win).Winton Richard https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rowing/32267294 BBC Sport Boat Races 2015: Oxford women and men beat Cambridge BBC 11 April 2015 11 April 2015 Tennis player Andy Murray marries his fiancée Kim Sears at a ceremony in his home town of Dunblane.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-32252206 Andy Murray marries girlfriend Kim Sears in Dunblane BBC News BBC 11 April 2015 11 April 2015 16 April – The Crown Prosecution Service issues a statement indicating that Labour peer Greville Janner will not face prosecution over allegations of child sexual abuse owing to his poor health.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-32329924 Lord Janner will not face child sex abuse charges, CPS says BBC BBC News 16 April 2015 18 April 2015https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11540872/Child-abuse-case-dropped-against-Labour-peer-for-second-time.html Child abuse case dropped against Labour peer for second time The Daily Telegraph 16 April 2015 18 April 2015 21 April – Following a six-week trial, Justin Robertson is jailed for life with a minimum tariff of thirty-two years for the September 2014 contract killing of Pennie Davis at the behest of her stepson. Benjamin Carr, who paid Robertson £1,500 to carry out the killing, is convicted of conspiracy to murder and will serve at least thirty years.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-32398463 Life sentence for man guilty of Pennie Davis New Forest murder BBC News BBC 21 April 2015 21 April 2015 22 April – Supermarket retailer Tesco posts a record £6,400,000,000 annual loss for the year ending in February 2015.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32408661 Tesco posts record £6.4bn annual loss BBC News BBC 22 April 2015 22 April 2015thumb|Participants in the 2015 London Marathon 26 April More than 38,000 people take part in this year's London Marathon, making it the biggest in the event's thirty-five-year history.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-32463424 London Marathon: Thousands take part in biggest race BBC News BBC 26 April 2015 26 April 2015 The government donates £5,000,000 and humanitarian aid to help people affected by the recent earthquake in Nepal, which killed over 6,000 people.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32474414 Nepal earthquake: UK government gives £5m BBC News BBC 26 April 2015 26 April 2015 27 April The British Red Cross confirms that there are still dozens of Britons who have still not been traced following the earthquake in Nepal two days earlier.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32480795 Nepal earthquake: Dozens of Britons yet to be traced BBC News BBC 27 April 2015 27 April 2015 Former Oxfordshire nurse Andrew Hutchinson is jailed for eighteen years for a rape, sexual assault and voyeurism case involving unconscious women between 2011 and 2013; two of which took place at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-32486188 Nurse Andrew Hutchinson jailed for attacks on patients BBC News BBC 27 April 2015 27 April 2015 28 April – Figures show that the rate of economic growth halved to 0.3% in the first quarter, marking the slowest quarterly growth in two years.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32493745 UK economic growth slows to 0.3% BBC News BBC 28 April 2015 28 April 2015thumb|Clandon Park House catches fire 29 April The UK Supreme Court rules that the government must take immediate action to cut air pollution,https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-32512152 Court orders UK to cut NO2 air pollution BBC News BBC 29 April 2015 29 April 2015 following a case brought by lawyers at ClientEarth.http://www.clientearth.org/news/press-releases/uk-supreme-court-orders-government-to-take-immediate-action-on-air-pollution-2843 UK Supreme Court orders Government to take "immediate action" on air pollution ClientEarth 29 April 2015 29 April 2015 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150505041213/http://www.clientearth.org/news/press-releases/uk-supreme-court-orders-government-to-take-immediate-action-on-air-pollution-2843 5 May 2015 18-year-old Kazi Islam, who was inspired by the murder of Lee Rigby, is convicted by a jury at the Old Bailey of grooming a vulnerable friend to kill two soldiers, and buying ingredients for a pipe bomb.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32521780 Teenager Kazi Islam found guilty of terror grooming BBC News BBC 29 April 2015 29 April 2015 The Foreign Office confirms that a Briton living overseas was among the 6,000 victims killed in the Nepal earthquake, and it is feared that another British national has been killed at the Everest Base Camp.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32513534 British death in Nepal earthquake confirmed BBC News BBC 29 April 2015 29 April 2015 A blaze causes extensive damage at Clandon Park House, a stately home in Surrey.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-32524445 Clandon Park House in Surrey hit by major fire BBC News BBC 29 April 2015 30 April 2015 30 April – The three main political party leaders, David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg, take part in the final televised debate before the general election on a special edition of Question Time.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32533048 Leaders grilled by audience in Question Time special BBC News BBC 30 April 2015 30 April 2015 May 2 May – The Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to a daughter at St Mary's Hospital in London who becomes fourth in line to the throne and Elizabeth II's fifth great-grandchild.Caroline Davies Rebecca Ratcliffe https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/may/02/duchess-of-cambridge-gives-birth-to-baby-girl-prince-william Royal baby: Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to baby girl The Guardian 2 May 2015 3 May 2015 She is subsequently named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32583432 Royal princess named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana BBC News BBC 4 May 2015 20 May 2015 4 May – The 2015 World Snooker Championship concludes with Stuart Bingham defeating Shaun Murphy 18–15 in the final to win his first world title.Bingham wins World title in thriller en-GB BBC Sport https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/32584278 15 June 2021thumb|Election posters in Batley and Spen 7 May 2015 general election: The Conservative Party win an outright majority with 331 seats, securing David Cameron a second term in office. Meanwhile, in Scotland, a huge surge to the Scottish National Party sees the party win 56 of the 59 Scottish seats available, an increase of 50 seats compared to their 2010 total. The Labour Party win 232 seats, with modest gains in England more than offset by heavy losses in Scotland, while the Liberal Democrats are almost wiped out with just 8 of their previous 57 seats remaining. UKIP hold one seat and lose one, failing to gain any more despite a huge increase in vote share. The Green Party also hold their sole seat. The Conversatives' majority win is unexpected, as most opinion polls indicated a very tight race, with a high chance of a hung parliament.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32659720 UK election results: David Cameron pledges a 'greater Britain' BBC 8 May 2015 8 May 2015https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-scotland-32668247 Election 2015: Sturgeon says Scotland 'voted for change' BBC 8 May 2015 8 May 2015 2015 local elections: Elections also take place in 279 councils across England, with the Conservatives gaining 25 councils to control 130 overall; the Labour Party lose four seats, leaving them with 67 councils; while the Liberal Democrats lose 4 to control 3 councils.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2015/results/councils England council results BBC 8 May 2015 8 May 2015 8 May Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage, the three respective leaders of the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats and the UK Independence Party, all announce their resignations in the wake of their electoral defeats.8 May 2015 Labour election results: Ed Miliband resigns as leader BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-32633388 8 May 20158 May 2015 Election results: Nick Clegg resigns as Leader of the Liberal Democrats after their worst electoral defeat, seeing them no longer the UK's third party. BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/election-2015-32667695 8 May 20158 May 2015 Nigel Farage resigns as UKIP leader BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/election-2015-32654046 8 May 2015 Commemorations are held to celebrate the seventieth anniversary of VE Day, the end of World War II on the continent.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32626551 VE Day 70th anniversary marked with events across Europe BBC 8 May 2015 8 May 2015 11 May – Nigel Farage announces he will stay on as UKIP leader, reversing his previous decision to resign, after the party rejects his resignation, saying there is "overwhelming evidence" that members disagree with his decision to quit.11 May 2015 Farage stays as UKIP leader after resignation rejected BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32696505 13 May 2015 13 May – Figures show that unemployment fell to 1,830,000 in the first quarter, a 35,000 decrease from the last quarter, and the lowest figure in seven years.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32719779 UK unemployment falls to seven-year low BBC 13 May 2015 13 May 2015 15 May – The Rail, Maritime and Transport workers union (RMT) announce that Network Rail workers will stage a 24-hour strike from 5.00pm on 25 May over pay and conditions, the first national rail strike in the UK for two decades.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32748029 Rail workers to strike on bank holiday Monday BBC News BBC 15 May 2015 20 May 2015 The strike is called off on 21 May after a pay deal is reached with Network Rail management.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32832191 Rail unions call off national bank holiday strike BBC News BBC 21 May 2015 21 May 2015 16 May – The Church of Scotland votes to allow the ordination of gay ministers in civil partnerships.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-32760416 Church of Scotland votes to allow gay ministers in civil partnerships BBC 16 May 2015 16 May 2015 19 May Prince Charles begins his official four-day tour of the Republic of Ireland having a controversial meeting with Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-32786393 Prince Charles meets Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams BBC 19 May 2015 19 May 2015 Figures show that the main measure of inflation turned negative in April for the first time on record, falling to −0.1%.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32793481 UK inflation rate turns negative BBC 19 May 2015 19 May 2015 Nine men are arrested,https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-32799703 Hatton Garden raid: Nine men arrested BBC 19 May 2015 21 May 2015 and eight charged the following day,https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-32822298 Hatton Garden raid: Eight men charged over burglary heist BBC 20 May 2015 21 May 2015 in connection with the Hatton Garden safe deposit burglary in early April. 21 May – Cashless payments now exceed the use of notes and coins, with cash volumes expected to fall by 30% over the next ten years, according to the Payments Council.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32778196 Cashless payments overtake the use of notes and coins BBC 21 May 2015 21 May 2015 22 May – An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 is felt across East Kent.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-32840579 Kent earthquake causes homes to shake BBC 22 May 2015 23 May 2015 28 May – The RMT calls two national strikes for June after failing to reach a deal with Network Rail management. A 24-hour strike will begin at 5.00pm on 4 June, and a 48-hour strike will take place from 5.00pm on 9 June.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32920794 Network Rail workers to go on strike in June BBC News BBC 28 May 2015 28 May 2015 The strikes are suspended on 1 June, after a 2% salary increase offer from Network Rail.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32956876 UK rail strikes suspended after 2% pay rise offer BBC News BBC 1 June 2015 2 June 2015 30 May – In football, Arsenal win the 2015 FA Cup Final defeating Aston Villa 4–0 at Wembley. June 1 June National rail strikes planned for 4 and 9 June are called off after a pay deal is reached.http://www.itv.com/news/story/2015-06-01/acas-network-rail-strikes-called-off/ ACAS – Network rail strikes called off ITV News 1 June 2015 2 June 2015 Charles Kennedy, former leader of the Liberal Democrats, dies aged 55 in Fort William, Scotland, of haemorrhage linked to alcoholism.https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-32970337 Tributes paid to Charles Kennedy 2 June 2015 BBC News BBC 2 June – A serious collision on The Smiler ride at Alton Towers causes four people to be airlifted to hospital due to their injuries. The incident is one of the biggest accidents ever to occur at Alton Towers, and the park is closed for several days pending investigations.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32980354 Alton Towers Smiler crash: Four seriously hurt BBC News 2 June 2015 5 June 2015 3 June – Jo Cox gives her maiden speech in Parliament. 6 June – Golden Horn, ridden by Frankie Dettori, wins the 2015 Epsom Derby.Keogh Frank Frankie Dettori wins Epsom Derby on favourite Golden Horn BBC Sport https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/33036202 9 June 2015 9 June – HSBC, the world's largest banking retailer, announce plans to cut 25,000 jobs worldwide, including 8,000 in the UK. It also plans to close some of its UK branches, and rename the HSBC brand in the UK.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-33058957 HSBC plans to cut 8,000 jobs in the UK in savings drive BBC News 9 June 2015 9 June 2015 10 June Chancellor George Osborne announces government plans to sell off its stake in the Royal Bank of Scotland.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-33088599 RBS government stake to be sold, chancellor announces BBC News 11 June 2015 11 June 2015 A nationwide poll to find a national bird for the UK chooses the robin as the public's favourite candidate.Jack Hardy https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/robin-crowned-as-britains-national-bird-after-200000strong-ballot-10311482.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/robin-crowned-as-britains-national-bird-after-200000strong-ballot-10311482.html 1 May 2022 subscription live Robin crowned as Britain's national bird after 200,000-strong ballot Independent Print Limited The Independent 10 June 2015 10 June 2015 11 June – A youth is detained by police after a teacher is stabbed in front of students at a school in Bradford.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bradford-west-yorkshire-33100114 Boy arrested after Bradford teacher stabbing BBC News 11 June 2015 12 June 2015 13 June – Trooping the Colour takes place in London marking the Queen's official birthday. It is the Duchess of Cambridge's first appearance since the birth of Princess Charlotte. Prince George also makes his first appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. 14 June – A statue of Queen Elizabeth II is unveiled by Speaker John Bercow at Runnymede in Surrey ahead of the celebrations of Magna Carta.http://www.itv.com/news/2015-06-14/statue-of-the-queen-unveiled-to-mark-magna-carta-milestone/ Statue of the Queen unveiled to mark Magna Carta milestone ITV News ITV 14 June 2015 15 June 2015 15 June – The royal family, the Prime Minister, the Archbishop of Canterbury and other dignitaries attend a ceremony at Runnymede to mark the eight-hundredth anniversary of Magna Carta.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33126723 Magna Carta 'changed the world', David Cameron tells at anniversary event BBC News 15 June 2015 15 June 2015https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-33131092 Queen attends 800th anniversary ceremony BBC News 15 June 2015 15 June 2015 18 June – A government report reveals that the Palace of Westminster is in need of repair, and recommends that MPs leave the building for two years in order for the repairs to be carried out.https://www.ft.com/content/768c237e-15af-11e5-8e6a-00144feabdc0 MPs face House of Commons move while palace is repaired Financial Times 19 June 2015 24 June 2015 20 June – Some 250,000 people take to the streets in cities such as London, Bristol and Manchester in a demonstration backed by the People's Assembly Against Austerity to protest against the UK Government's austerity programme. 24 June – It is announced that Buckingham Palace is in need of repair and the Royal Household debates whether the Queen should move to Windsor Castle.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33250274 Queen could move out of Buckingham Palace BBC News 24 June 2015 24 June 2015 25 June – The UK population has grown by almost 500,000 to reach 64,596,800 in 2014 – an above average increase compared with increases over the last decade – according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The percentage of older people continues to increase, and the median age is now forty years, the highest ever recorded.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33266792 UK population increases by 500,000, official figures show BBC News 25 June 2015 25 June 2015 26 June – At least 30 Britons are among 38 people believed to be dead after a terrorist attack on a beach near the Tunisian resort town of Sousse.https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2015/jun/26/tunisia-beach-resort-attack-multiple-deaths-live-updates Terror attacks: separate attacks in Tunisia, France and Kuwait leave more than 60 dead The Guardian 26 June 2015 26 June 2015https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33299523 British Tunisia death toll rises to 15 BBC News 27 June 2015 27 June 2015http://news.sky.com/story/1509937/memorial-on-beach-after-30-britons-killed Memorial On Beach After 30 Britons Killed British Sky Broadcasting Sky News 30 June 2015 5 July 2015 28 June The 14th Dalai Lama makes an appearance at the 2015 Glastonbury Festival, praising the event as "a festival of people, not governments or politicians".Ian Young https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33303900 Glastonbury: Dalai Lama warms up for Lionel Richie BBC News 28 June 2015 28 June 2015 A coach driver from Northern Ireland is killed, and several teachers and schoolchildren from Brentwood in Essex are injured, after a coach crashes near Ostend in Belgium.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33303121 NI driver killed in Belgium school trip bus crash BBC News 28 June 2015 28 June 2015 29 June A major planning application by energy firm Cuadrilla to begin fracking in Lancashire is rejected by the local council.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-33313084 Council blocks Little Plumpton fracking application BBC News 29 June 2015 29 June 2015 Production ceases at the last deep coal mine in the South Yorkshire Coalfield, Hatfield Colliery.https://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/28622652/hatfield-colliery-closure-speeds-up-uk-exit-from-deep-coal-mining/ Hatfield Colliery closure speeds up UK exit from deep coal mining Reuters London 30 June 2015 19 July 2015 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150723164012/https://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/28622652/hatfield-colliery-closure-speeds-up-uk-exit-from-deep-coal-mining/ 23 July 2015 30 June – Police officers, intelligence officials, soldiers and emergency services take part in a counter-terrorism exercise, codenamed Strong Tower, in London. The terror attack simulation has been six months in the planning and is the country's largest such exercise to date.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33315691 Major counter-terrorism exercise in London BBC News 30 June 2015 30 June 2015 July 1 July – A level three "heatwave action" heat-health alert is declared by the Met Office, as a temperature of 36.7 °C is recorded at Heathrow in London; the hottest UK temperature in twelve years, and the hottest July day on record.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-33324881 Hottest July day ever recorded in England BBC BBC News 1 July 2015 1 July 2015 3 July Across the UK, a one-minute silence is held at midday to remember the 38 victims – including 30 British people – who died in the Tunisia beach attack a week earlier.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33382486 Tunisia attack: Minute's silence held for victims BBC News 3 July 2015 3 July 2015 Production is suspended at the last substantial coal mine in Wales, Aberpergwm.http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/jobs-coal-mothballed/story-26768464-detail/story.html Jobs to go as South West Wales coal mine is mothballed South Wales Evening Post 26 June 2015 20 August 2016 4 July – England finish third in the 2015 Women's World Cup after defeating Germany 1–0 in the third place play-off.Magowan Alistair https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33085963 BBC Sport Women's World Cup: Germany Women 0–1 England Women BBC 4 July 2015 5 July 2015 5 July Lewis Hamilton wins the 2015 British Grand Prix.Benson Andrew https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/33401990 BBC Sport Lewis Hamilton wins British GP brilliantly after late rain BBC 5 July 2015 5 July 2015 UNESCO gives the Forth Bridge the status of a World Heritage Site.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-33397980 Forth Bridge given World Heritage Site status BBC News 5 July 2015 6 July 2015 Government redeems the last four undated bonds in its portfolio, including the last consolidated liabilities from the collapse of the South Sea Company in 1720.Repayment of £2.6 billion historical debt to be completed by government HM Treasury https://www.gov.uk/government/news/repayment-of-26-billion-historical-debt-to-be-completed-by-government 27 March 2015 11 February 2023 GOV.UK 6 July – A major incident is declared by Sussex Police after two people are left with life-threatening injuries as two double-decker buses collide on North Street, Brighton.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-33406558 Two buses crash in Brighton city centre BBC News 6 July 2015 6 July 2015 7 July – The UK marks the tenth anniversary of the 7/7 attacks with memorial services and one minute's silence.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33407554 7 July London bombings: Ceremonies in memory of victims BBC News 7 July 2015 7 July 2015 8 July – As part of his first Conservative Budget, the Chancellor George Osborne unveils billions in welfare cuts, but also announces a National Living Wage of £9 an hour by 2020.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33437115 Budget 2015: Osborne unveils National Living Wage BBC News 8 July 2015 8 July 2015 9 July – Tube and train strikes cause travel chaos in and around London, with the entire London Underground network shut down and many rail services cancelled.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-33456830 Tube and train strikes: Commuters face travel disruption BBC News 9 July 2015 9 July 2015 10 July Production ceases at the last deep coal mine in Nottinghamshire, Thoresby Colliery.https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-33409746 Nottinghamshire's Thoresby Colliery closes after 90 years BBC News 10 July 2015 5 April 2020 Thousands of British holidaymakers begin to return home from Tunisia after a warning from the Foreign Office that another terror attack is "highly likely".https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33473433 Tunisia travel alert: Thousands of Britons fly home BBC News 10 July 2015 10 July 2015 13 July – Hundreds of flights are disrupted at Heathrow Airport in London after members of the climate change protest group Plane Stupid break through the metal fence, get onto the northern runway, and chain themselves together in protest.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-33503167 Heathrow Airport climate change protest delays flights BBC News 13 July 2015 13 July 2015thumb|Tim Farron, newly elected leader of the Liberal Democrats 16 July – Tim Farron is elected as the new leader of the Liberal Democrats.16 July 2015 Liberal Democrats Tim Farron elected as Leader of the Liberal Democrats 23 September 2015 http://www.libdems.org.uk/tim-farron-elected-leader-liberal-democrats 17 July The first female genital mutilation protection order in the UK is obtained by Bedfordshire Police, preventing two young girls thought to be at risk from travelling to Africa.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33572428 UK's first FGM protection order secured by Beds police BBC News 17 July 2015 17 July 2015 Four people are thought to be trapped and four others are taken to hospital, after three explosions at a wood treatment works in Bosley near Macclesfield in Cheshire.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-33566064 Bosley explosion: 'Four missing' in Wood Flour Mills blast BBC News 17 July 2015 17 July 2015 20 July – In golf, Zach Johnson of the USA wins the 2015 Open Championship, the 144th edition of the tournament, at St Andrews, Fife, defeating South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman of Australia in a playoff. 21 July – Chancellor George Osborne launches a spending review that calls for £20 billion of cuts to Whitehall budgets. Each unprotected department is asked to create savings plans of between 25% and 40% of their budget.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33610801 Draw up 40% cuts plans, George Osborne tells Whitehall departments BBC News 21 July 2015 21 July 2015 22 July – The University of Birmingham finds in its archives the oldest known surviving fragments of the Koran, and plans to put them on public display.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-33436021 'Oldest' Koran fragments found in Birmingham University BBC News 22 July 2015 22 July 2015 26 July – Great Britain's Chris Froome wins the 2015 Tour de France. This is Froome's second victory in the event, having also won the race in 2013, and marks the third time in four years that the event has been won by a British rider.https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/33672097 Tour de France: Chris Froome seals historic second win BBC News 27 July 2015 27 July 2015 27 July Members of the Norwich sexual abuse ring are found guilty of the sexual abuse of children, with the crimes spanning a decade. Ringleader Marie Black is convicted of 23 counts of sex abuse, including rape.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-33674221 Norfolk child sex abuse case: Marie Black guilty BBC News 27 July 2015 A train is derailed at Chilham in Kent after hitting cows on the line, but the passengers manage to escape unharmed.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-33671351 Train derailed after hitting cows on line in Kent BBC News 27 July 2015 27 July 2015 The Metropolitan Police launch a criminal investigation after Lord Sewel, the former Deputy Lords Speaker, is filmed allegedly taking cocaine with prostitutes.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33680837 Police investigating drug claim peer BBC News 27 July 2015 27 July 2015 28 July – The Eurotunnel migrant crisis worsens as its reported that 2,000 migrants tried to enter the Channel Tunnel terminal in Calais in an attempt to reach the UK the previous night.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33689473 Channel Tunnel: '2,000 migrants' tried to enter BBC News 28 July 2015 28 July 2015 31 July – A private jet crashes at a car auction site near Blackbushe Airport in Hampshire, killing its pilot and three passengers.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-33736685 Blackbushe Airport: Four dead in car auction site plane crash BBC News 31 July 2015 31 July 2015 August August – Arden University is relaunched as a distance learning degree-granting institution under this name, based in Coventry.For-profit RDI granted university status: US-owned institution becomes Arden University 5 August 2015 https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/profit-rdi-granted-university-status 19 August 2016 John Morgan Times Higher Education 1 August – Singer and television star Cilla Black, whose showbiz career spanned over fifty years, dies at her villa in Spain, aged 72.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33751060 Cilla Black, singer and TV star, dies in Spain aged 72 BBC 2 August 2015 2 August 2015 4 August – Former prime minister Sir Edward Heath, who died in 2005, is investigated by police forces as part of their inquiries into allegations of historical child abuse.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33770021 Edward Heath abuse claims: Four forces investigating ex-PM BBC 4 August 2015 4 August 2015 6 August – A second transport worker's strike causes chaos in London, with the entire London Underground network shut down.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-33798637 Tube strike – London commuters deal with queues and delays BBC 6 August 2015 7 August 2015 10 August – The youth who stabbed teacher Vincent Uzomah at a Bradford school on 11 June is sentenced to eleven years' detention.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-33847293 Bradford King's Academy stabbing: Boy detained for 11 years BBC 10 August 2015 10 August 2015 15 August – Commemorations are held to celebrate the seventieth anniversary of VJ Day, the end of World War II in the Far East.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33936830 VJ Day: Queen leads 70th anniversary commemorations BBC 15 August 2015 15 August 2015 17 August – The London Borough of Lambeth becomes the first council in the United Kingdom to ban the use of laughing gas for recreational use.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33955823 Lambeth Council bans laughing gas as recreational drug BBC 17 August 2015 17 August 2015 18 August – One Briton is confirmed to be amongst the twenty people killed during the Ratchaprasong bombing in Bangkok, Thailand, which occurred the previous day.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33973565 British woman killed in Bangkok bombing BBC 18 August 2015 18 August 2015 20 August – Hundreds of fans, family and fellow stars turn out to pay their respects to the singer and television star, Cilla Black, at her funeral in Liverpool.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33991635 Cilla Black funeral: Fans and stars say farewell in Liverpool BBC 20 August 2015 20 August 2015 22 August – An RAF Hawker Hunter crashes into vehicles on the A27 near Shoreham in West Sussex during the Shoreham Airshow; eleven people are killed and fourteen injured.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34027260 Shoreham plane crash: Seven dead as Hawker Hunter hits cars BBC 22 August 2015 22 August 2015https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34033660 Shoreham air crash: the victims BBC 24 August 2015 24 August 2015 24 August British IT consultant Chris Norman is awarded the Légion d'Honneur, France's highest decoration, for his bravery in the 2015 Thalys train attack in France.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34039225 France train attack: Chris Norman awarded Légion d'Honneur BBC 24 August 2015 24 August 2015 British IndyCar driver Justin Wilson dies in hospital after an accident during a race at the Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania, United States.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/34037413 Justin Wilson: British IndyCar driver dies after crash BBC Sport 25 August 2015 26 August 2015 September 4 September – David Cameron announces that the UK is to provide resettlement to thousands more Syrian refugees in response to the worsening migrant crisis.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34148913 David Cameron: UK to accept 'thousands' more Syrian refugees BBC 4 September 2015 6 September 2015thumb|The official opening of the Borders Railway 6 September Rail transport returns to the Scottish Borders after forty-six years with the reopening of the Waverley Route between Edinburgh and Tweedbank, under the name of the Borders Railway.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-34108746 Borders-to-Edinburgh railway opens as longest UK line in century BBC 6 September 2015 6 September 2015 Homeowners in Lancashire are told that their water supplies are safe and back to normal after a microbial parasite contaminated drinking water for more than three weeks.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-34169201 Lancashire water supplies declared safe BBC 6 September 2015 6 September 2015 The Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey, Peter Walker, dies in office.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-34167596 Guernsey Lieutenant-Governor, Air Marshal Peter Walker dies BBC 6 September 2015 8 September 2015 7 September – Two British Islamic State jihadists, who were planning "barbaric" attacks on British soil, are confirmed dead after the first targeted UK drone attack on a British citizen last month.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34178998 Islamic State conflict: Two Britons killed in RAF Syria strike BBC 7 September 2015 7 September 2015 8 September - England Footballer Wayne Rooney becomes the England national football team all-time leading goalscorer with 50 goals in a 2–0 win vs Switzerland national football team,https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34061844 England 2 Switzerland 0 surpassing the previous record of 49 goals held by Bobby Charlton since 1968. The record would last until 23 March 2023 when it would be broken by Harry Kane in a 2–1 win vs Italy national football team.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64972899 Italy 1 England 2 Harry Kane Scores Record-Breaking goal... 9 September – Queen Elizabeth II surpasses her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria as the United Kingdom's longest-reigning monarch,"Queen Elizabeth II marks another milestone". BBC. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2014. as she declares the Borders Railway officially open.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-34177585 Queen officially opens Borders-to-Edinburgh railway BBC 9 September 2015 9 September 2015 11 September – MPs reject plans for a right to die in England and Wales in their first vote on the issue in almost twenty years.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-34208624 Assisted Dying Bill: MPs reject 'right to die' law BBC 11 September 2015 16 September 2015thumb|Newly elected leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn 12 September – Jeremy Corbyn is elected as the new leader of the Labour Party,https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34223157 Jeremy Corbyn wins Labour leadership contest BBC 12 September 2015 12 September 2015 with Tom Watson as deputy leader.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34232388 Tom Watson elected deputy leader of the Labour Party BBC 12 September 2015 12 September 2015 15 September – A flypast takes place at Goodwood in West Sussex to mark the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Battle of Britain. A service to mark the occasion is also held at St Paul's Cathedral in London, attended by David Cameron, Jeremy Corbyn, and the visiting President of Poland.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34250794 Battle of Britain; Historic flypast for 75th anniversary BBC 15 September 2015 16 September 2015 22 September – Chancellor George Osborne says during a visit to China that the country "must be the United Kingdom's number two export market".https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34325714 China must be our number two export market BBC 22 September 2015 22 September 2015 26 September – A fire damages the United Kingdom's largest mosque, the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Morden, London.Morden mosque fire: 70 firefighters tackle blaze https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-34369710 BBC 26 September 2015 26 September 2015 28 September Members of a Norwich sexual abuse ring are jailed for "utterly depraved" sex abuse of children over a period of ten years. Ringleader Marie Black received the longest sentence of life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 24 years.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-34377382 Marie Black gets life term for child abuse BBC News 28 September 2015 Steelmaker SSI, owner of the Teesside Steelworks at Redcar in North Yorkshire, announces that it is to close, with the loss of 1,700 jobs.SSI Redcar steel plant mothballed, with the loss of 1,700 jobs https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34377756 BBC 28 September 2015 29 September 2015 30 September Volkswagen announces that 1,200,000 of its vehicles sold in the UK are affected by the software behind the emissions scandal, including cars with the VW brand, Audi, Seat, Skodă and VW vans.VW scandal: 1.2m UK vehicles affected https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34399503 BBC 30 September 2015 30 September 2015 David Cameron faces demands from campaigners to apologise and pay financial reparations for the United Kingdom's role in the historic slave trade in the Caribbean, during a state visit to Jamaica.David Cameron faces demands for slavery reparation on Jamaica visit https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34401412 BBC 30 September 2015 30 September 2015 Government loans taken out to compensate slaveowners under the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 are finally repaid this year.Kris Manjapra https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/mar/29/slavery-abolition-compensation-when-will-britain-face-up-to-its-crimes-against-humanity When will Britain face up to its crimes against humanity? 29 March 2018 The Guardian 30 March 2018 Doctors are granted approval by the Health Research Authority to carry out the first ten womb transplants in the UK, following the success of the procedure in Sweden.Womb transplants given UK go-ahead https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-34397794 BBC 30 September 2015 30 September 2015 October 1 October A new law banning smoking in vehicles carrying children comes into force in England and Wales.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-34402622 Car smoking ban comes into force BBC 1 October 2015 2 October 2015 New consumer protections come into force under the Consumer Rights Act, guaranteeing a full refund for faulty goods up to thirty days after purchase.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34403005 Right to 30-day refund becomes law BBC 1 October 2015 1 October 2015 2 October – A 15-year old British boy from Blackburn, who plotted to behead police officers at an Anzac Day parade in Australia, is sentenced to life in prison.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34423984 Anzac Day terror plot: Blackburn boy sentenced to life BBC 2 October 2015 2 October 2015 3 October A woman and an eight-year-old boy are killed and several others are seriously injured, after a double-decker bus crashes into a supermarket in Coventry.Dominic Howell https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-34436360 Coventry bus crash: Two dead after double-decker hits supermarket BBC News BBC 3 October 2015 4 October 2015 Two people are killed after their light aircraft crashes into a field near Chigwell in Essex.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-34433340 Chigwell air crash: two dead after aircraft bursts into flames BBC 3 October 2015 3 October 2015 Denis Healey, former Chancellor of the Exchequer and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, dies, aged 98.https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-34434378 'Labour giant' Denis Healey dies at 98 3 October 2015 BBC News 5 October England becomes the last country in the UK to introduce a mandatory 5p charge for plastic carrier bags at supermarkets.Dominic Howell https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34346309 The 5p plastic bag charge: All you need to know BBC News BBC 2 October 2015 3 October 2015 Archaeologists start digging up the remains of a Spitfire that crashed in the Cambridgeshire fens in 1940.World War 2 Spitfire to be unearthed from Cambridgeshire fen https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-34403689 BBC 5 October 2015 5 October 2015 Merseyside Police officer David Phillips, dies after being hit by a stolen pick-up truck he was trying to stop; the force begins a major search for the perpetrator the following day.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-34450866 PC David Phillips murder: Police hunt driver of stolen truck BBC 6 October 2015 6 October 2015 7 October – Peter Ball (who in 1993 had resigned as Bishop of Gloucester having been given a police caution for gross indecency with a 19-year-old man) is sentenced at the Old Bailey to 32 months in prison on two counts of indecent assault and one of misconduct in a public office after admitting the abuse of 18 young men over the period from 1977 to 1992.Sandra Laville https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/oct/09/bishop-peter-ball-case-goddard-child-sex-abuse-inquiry Bishop Peter Ball case 'should be part of child sex abuse inquiry' The Guardian London 2015-10-09 2026-05-17 12 October – University College Chichester, in West Sussex, is recognised as a full university, the University of Chichester. 13 October – Home Office figures show that hate crimes in England and Wales have risen by 18% from the last year; with 80% classed as race hate crimes, and others involving religion, disability, sexuality and transgender victims.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34515763 Hate crimes increase by 18% in England and Wales BBC 13 October 2015 13 October 2015 15 October – The Stirling Prize, the United Kingdom's top architectural award, is given to Burntwood School in Wandsworth, London.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-34537420 Riba Stirling Prize: Burntwood School wins award BBC 15 October 2015 15 October 2015 16 October – Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon announces at the annual SNP conference, that party membership now stands at 114,221 members.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-34553158 SNP Conference 2015: Who are the party's new members? BBC 16 October 2015 23 October 2015 19 October – Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives at Heathrow Airport for his first state visit to the UK.Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in UK https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-34571910 BBC News BBC 19 October 2015 21 October – Michael Meacher, the Labour MP for Oldham West and Royton, dies in office.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34592381 Labour MP Michael Meacher dies BBC 21 October 2015 21 October 2015 22 October – The voting rights of MPs representing constituencies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are to be restricted, after the Conservative Government wins a vote on its controversial 'English votes for English laws’ (EVEL) plans.http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13888756.Voting_rights_of_Scottish_MPs_to_be_restricted_after_Government_wins_Evel_vote/ Voting rights of Scottish MPs to be restricted after Government wins Evel vote The Herald 22 October 2015 23 October 2015 23 October – A "significant and sustained" cyberattack is made on the website of telecoms firm TalkTalk, with personal and banking details of up to 4,000,000 customers being accessed and the firm's CEO receiving a ransom email purported to be from the hackers.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34615226 TalkTalk cyber-attack: Boss 'receives ransom email' BBC 23 October 2015 23 October 2015 25 October The Royal Mint releases a special £5 coin to commemorate the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-34628126 Royal Mint releases coin to mark Battle of Agincourt anniversary BBC 25 October 2015 26 October 2015 Five people, all confirmed to be Britons, are drowned after the whale-watching boat Leviathan II sinks off Tofino in British Columbia, Canada.http://news.sky.com/story/1576411/whale-watching-boat-tragedy-kills-five-britons Whale-watching boat tragedy kills five Britons Sky News 26 October 2015 27 October 2015 26 October Rachel Treweek, Bishop of Gloucester, becomes the first woman to take her seat as a bishop in the House of Lords.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34634819 Gloucester bishop Rachel Treweek to take seat in Lords BBC News BBC 26 October 2015 26 October 2015 The government suffers a major defeat in the House of Lords, after its plans to cut tax credits are rejected by peers, who vote to delay the measures and compensate those affected in full.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34631156 Tax credits: Lords vote to delay controversial cuts BBC 26 October 2015 29 October 2015 29 October A 16-year-old youth is detained by police, after a fellow pupil is stabbed to death at Cults Academy school in Aberdeen.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-34660140 Pupil dies after school stabbing at Cults Academy near Aberdeen BBC News BBC 29 October 2015 29 October 2015 It is projected that the UK population will increase beyond 70,000,000 by 2027, mainly due to an ageing population and net migration.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34666382 UK population 'to top 70 million in 12 years' BBC News BBC 29 October 2015 30 October 2015 30 October – Shaker Aamer, the last British resident to be held in Guantanamo Bay, lands in the UK, having been detained for thirteen years.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34675324 Shaker Aamer: Last UK Guantanamo Bay detainee arrives in UK BBC News BBC 30 October 2015 30 October 2015 31 October – A motorist dies and ten people are taken to hospital with injuries, after a car collides with a bus near West Kilbride in Ayrshire, Scotland.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-34687469 Driver dies and two seriously injured in crash between car and bus BBC 31 October 2015 31 October 2015 November 1 November – A temperature of 22.4 °C is recorded in Trawsgoed, Ceredigion in Wales, making it the warmest November day on record in the UK, breaking the previous record set nearly seventy years ago.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34693529 Hottest UK November day recorded in mid Wales BBC 1 November 2015 1 November 2015 2 November Archaeologists accidentally discover a well-preserved family burial vault in Gloucester Cathedral.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-32914568 Burial vault discovered 'accidentally' at Gloucester Cathedral BBC 2 November 2015 2 November 2015 Hundreds of police officers from all over the UK turn out to pay their respects at the funeral of Merseyside Police officer David Phillips at Liverpool Cathedral.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-34681868 PC David Phillips funeral: Hundreds of police officers attend BBC 2 November 2015 2 November 2015 4 November – A suspension of flights between the UK and the Egyptian holiday resort of Sharm el-Sheikh leaves many British holidaymakers stranded, following rumours that the Metrojet Flight 9268 on 31 October, in which many Russian tourists died, was caused by a terrorist bomb.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/05/russian-plane-crash-media-anger-britain-stopping-sharm-el-sheikh Anger in Russian media at Britain stopping Sharm el-Sheikh flights The Guardian 5 November 2015 6 November 2015 5 November – A protest march by masked anti-capitalists in central London on Bonfire Night leads to three Metropolitan Police officers being taken to hospital with injuries. Six police horses are also hurt.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34741434 Million Mask March: Three police officers hospitalised BBC 6 November 2015 6 November 2015 6 November – Flights between the UK and Sharm el-Sheikh resume, bringing the stranded British tourists home.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34743388 Russian plane crash: First flights return to UK after Sharm alert BBC 6 November 2015 6 November 2015 10 November – Storm Abigail is the first storm to be officially named by the Met Office.http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/news/releases/archive/2015/storm-Abigail Met Office officially names Abigail as first storm Met Office 10 November 2015 It leaves many travel services disrupted, schools closed, and 20,000 homes without power.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-34806420 Storm Abigail sweeps through Scotland cutting power BBC 14 November 2015 14 November 2015 11 November – Nathan Matthews is found guilty of the murder of Becky Watts, his teenage stepsister, while his girlfriend, Shauna Hoare, is found guilty of her manslaughter.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34790804 Pair guilty of Becky Watts killing BBC News On 13 November, Justice Dingemans sentences Matthews to life imprisonment with a minimum of 33 years for the murder, and Hoare is sentenced to 17 years for manslaughter.2015-11-13 Nathan Matthews and Shauna Hoare jailed for Becky Watts killing https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-34812317 2025-05-02 BBC News en-GB 14 November One Briton is confirmed to be among the 129 people killed in a series of coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris the previous day, with fears of a "handful" more to be confirmed.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34821001 Paris attacks: Briton confirmed among dead BBC 14 November 2015 15 November 2015 Gatwick's North Terminal is evacuated as a precautionary measure, in light of the terrorist attacks in Paris, after a man is arrested when a suspicious item is found at the airport.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-34821392 French man held as suspected firearm found at Gatwick Airport BBC 14 November 2015 14 November 2015 The Department for Transport announces that all speed cameras in England currently painted grey will be repainted yellow by the end of October 2016.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34819171 Grey speed cameras to be turned yellow under new rules BBC 14 November 2015 14 November 2015 A family of four are killed after their six-seater light aircraft crashes near Churchinford in Somerset.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34822189 Four people dead as plane crashes in Somerset BBC 14 November 2015 14 November 2015https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-34825769 Somerset plane crash dead 'from the same family' BBC 15 November 2015 15 November 2015 16 November – The UK joins the rest of Europe in a minutes silence in remembrance of the 129 lives lost, including one Briton, in the Paris terrorist attacks on 13 November.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-34831380 UK falls silent for the victims of the Paris attacks BBC 16 November 2015 16 November 2015 17 November – Prime Minister David Cameron promises the House of Commons a "comprehensive strategy" to win MPs' backing for bombing Islamic State militants in Syria as well as Iraq.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34846457 PM: I will make case for strikes against IS in Syria BBC 17 November 2015 17 November 2015 18 November Thousands of homes are left without power as Storm Barney rips through parts of the United Kingdom.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/weather/12002488/Thousands-left-without-power-as-Storm-Barney-batters-UK.html Thousands left without power as Storm Barney batters UK The Telegraph 18 November 2015 18 November 2015 Energy Secretary Amber Rudd proposes that the UK's coal plants should be phased out by 2025.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34851718 UK's coal plants to be phased out within 10 years BBC 18 November 2015 18 November 2015 21 November – Four Britons are believed to be among the seven people killed in a helicopter crash on the Fox Glacier in South Island, New Zealand.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-34887978 'Four Britons and two Australians' among NZ crash dead BBC 21 November 2015 21 November 2015 23 November – David Cameron holds talks with French President François Hollande about co-operation in the fight against Islamic State.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34897288 David Cameron: World uniting to fight 'evil threat' of IS BBC 23 November 2015 23 November 2015 24 November A Scottish National Party motion opposing Trident's renewal is defeated by 330 votes to 64, with most Labour MPs abstaining.MPs reject SNP calls for Trident to be scrapped bbc.co.uk, accessed 26 December 2015 Alton Towers confirms that The Smiler rollercoaster crash, that seriously injured five people in June, was caused by human error.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34911943 Alton Towers Smiler ride crash due to 'human error' BBC 24 November 2015 24 November 2015 British Airways and EasyJet cancel all flights between Sharm el-Sheikh and the UK until January, following the suspected bombing of Metrojet Flight 9268.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34908420 Egypt plane crash: Airlines cancel more Sharm el-Sheikh flights BBC 24 November 2015 24 November 2015 25 November – Chancellor George Osborne outlines his joint annual Autumn Statement and Spending Review for the financial year ahead, in which he surprisingly announces he is to scrap planned cuts to tax credits and vows to protect police budgets in response to the UK's heightened terror threat.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34915218 Spending Review: George Osborne U-turn over tax credits BBC 25 November 2015 25 November 2015https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34922126 Spending Review: George Osborne protects police funding BBC 25 November 2015 25 November 2015 28 November – Grant Shapps quits as Minister of State at the Department for International Development amid claims he failed to act on allegations of bullying following the apparent suicide of a youth activist in September.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34952981 Grant Shapps quits amid Tory bullying claims BBC 28 November 2015 28 November 2015 29 November – In tennis, Great Britain win the Davis Cup for the first time since 1936 after Andy Murray beats Belgium's David Goffin at the final in Ghent, Belgium.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/34957711 Andy Murray wins the Davis Cup for Great Britain BBC 29 November 2015 29 November 2015 November – Last sighting in England of a golden eagle (in the Lake District).Jessica Aldred England's last golden eagle feared dead https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/apr/14/englands-last-golden-eagle-feared-dead 14 April 2016 12 March 2023 The Guardian London December 1 December – A fire damages a bar in Newcastle city centre, and one person, later confirmed as the owner, Brian Sandals, is found burnt to death.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-34981621 Newcastle Kard Bar fire: Body believed to be Brian Sandals BBC 2 December 2015 3 December 2015thumb|Protest against air strikes in Syria 2 December – MPs vote 397–223 to authorise UK air strikes against Islamic State in Syria.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34989302 Syria air strikes: MPs authorise UK action against Islamic State BBC 2 December 2015 2 December 2015 3 December The UK launches its first air strikes over Syria with RAF tornado jets carrying out bombings against Islamic State-controlled oil fields.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34992032 UK launches first Syria air strikes BBC 3 December 2015 3 December 2015 2015 Oldham West and Royton by-election: Jim McMahon retains the seat for Labour with an increased majority of 7.3%. The by-election was caused by long-serving MP Michael Meacher's death in October. 4 December The Rail Delivery Group announces that rail fares will rise by 1.1% in the new year, in line with current inflation rates.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35003820 Rail fares to rise by average of 1.1% from 2 January BBC 4 December 2015 5 December 2015 The Forth Road Bridge in Scotland is closed due to structural defects, and the Scottish Transport Minister, Derek Mackay, announces that it will not be reopened until January 2016.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-35001277 Forth Road Bridge to be closed until new year BBC 4 December 2015 5 December 2015 5 December A stabbing at Leytonstone tube station in East London, which leaves a man with serious knife injuries, is being treated as a "terrorist incident" according to the Metropolitan Police.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35018789 Leytonstone Tube stabbing 'terrorist incident' BBC 5 December 2015 5 December 2015 Storm Desmond batters the UK with high-speed winds and heavy rain, causing severe disruption. People are evacuated from their homes as flash flooding sweeps through parts of Cumbria, with police declaring a "major incident".https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35014745 Storm Desmond brings flooding and disruption to parts of UK BBC 5 December 2015 5 December 2015 Plastic bag use in Tesco stores in England has declined by 80% since a new 5p charge was introduced, data suggests.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35013520 Tesco plastic bag use 'down 80%' since 5p charge BBC 5 December 2015 5 December 2015 9 December The Election Court decide that although Liberal Democrat Alistair Carmichael has told a "blatant lie" in a TV interview, it has not been proven beyond reasonable doubt that he had committed an "illegal practice" that would invalidate his election.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-35049150 Alistair Carmichael case: Legal bid to oust Lib Dem MP fails 9 December 2015 BBC News 9 December 2015 MPs debate whether Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump should be banned from entering the UK after an online petition receives an excess of 100,000 signatures. This follows Trump making a statement about banning all Muslims from entering the United States, and claims he made that parts of London are "so radicalised the police are afraid for their lives".https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35052505 Trump UK ban petition passes 250,000 signatures BBC 9 December 2015 9 December 2015https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-35037007 Trump claim wrong that police 'afraid' in London – PM says BBC 9 December 2015 9 December 2015 Chancellor George Osborne announces a £50,000,000 fund for families and businesses hit by floods in Cumbria and Lancashire in the wake of Storm Desmond.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35052705 Storm Desmond: £50m flood fund pledged for victims BBC 9 December 2015 9 December 2015 10 December – The government announces that any decisions on whether to allow a new runway at Heathrow or Gatwick will not be announced until summer 2016.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35062739 Heathrow Airport runway decision delayed until summer BBC 10 December 2015 11 December 2015 14 December – A "huge rise" is reported in the number of newborn babies in England who are subject to care proceedings, with 2,018 in 2013 compared to 802 in 2008.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35088794 'Huge rise' in newborn babies subject to care proceedings BBC 14 December 2015 30 December 2015thumb|Tim Peake conducting repairs on the International Space Station a few weeks after his arrival 15 December – British astronaut Tim Peake becomes the first Briton under the banner of the European Space Agency to set foot on the International Space Station.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35101643 Tim Peake begins stay on international space station BBC 15 December 2015 12 January 2016 18 December The United Kingdom's last deep coal mine, Kellingley Colliery at Beal, North Yorkshire, closes; marking the end of the era of deep-pit coal mining in the UK.http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/regional/sadness-tinged-with-relief-for-miners-as-kellingley-colliery-closure-date-set-1-7619677 Sadness tinged with relief for miners as Kellingley Colliery closure date set Yorkshire Evening Post 11 December 2015 18 December 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151222141314/http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/regional/sadness-tinged-with-relief-for-miners-as-kellingley-colliery-closure-date-set-1-7619677 22 December 2015 dead Energy firm npower is fined £26,000,000 over billing and complaint failures after it sent out incorrect bills and failed to deal with complaints, according to Ofgem.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35129788 Npower to pay £26m over billing and complaint failures BBC 18 December 2015 30 December 2015 25 December – Storm Eva causes more intensive flooding in northern England, with homes evacuated in Lancashire and Yorkshire, and rivers overflowing in Manchester and Leeds.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35181139 UK floods: Homes evacuated amid heavy rain BBC 27 December 2015 30 December 2015 29 December – An 81-year-old woman is shot dead by a fellow octogenarian resident at the De La Mer House care home in Essex.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35189664 De La Mer House care home shooting: Woman killed BBC 29 December 2015 30 December 2015 30 December A husband and wife who plotted terror attacks in the Underground and Westfield shopping centre, nicknamed the "silent bomber" couple, are jailed for a minimum of 27 and 25 years.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35198500 BBC 30 December 2015 30 December 2015 'Silent bomber' couple jailed for London terror plot Hundreds of homes are evacuated and thousands are left without power in Scotland and Northern Ireland as Storm Frank brings torrential rain and gales. More than a hundred flood warnings are issued across England, Wales and Scotland.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35181139 BBC 30 December 2015 30 December 2015 UK floods: Homes evacuated amid heavy rain 31 December The New Year honours list is announced, with new knights, dames, MBEs and OBEs awarded for notable contributions to society.https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/dec/30/new-years-honours-2016-the-full-list New Year honours 2016: the full list 30 December 2015 The Guardian More than 1,700 same-sex couples have married in the first year after Scotland became the seventeenth country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-35204654 More that 1,700 same-sex couples married in first year of law 31 December 2015 BBC News 1 February 2023 Undated Ofqual initiates reversion of GCE Advanced Level testing from modular assessment to two-year terminal examinations; AS-levels will no longer count towards a subsequent A-level. Publications Frances Hardinge's young adult fantasy novel The Lie Tree, overall winner of the 2015 Costa Book Awards. Paula Hawkins' novel The Girl on the Train. E. L. James' novel Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by Christian. Jamie Oliver's cookbook Everyday Super Food. Terry Pratchett's posthumous novel The Shepherd's Crown. Zoe Sugg's novel Girl Online: On Tour. David Walliams' children's novel Grandpa's Great Escape. Births March 7 March – Bodhana Sivanandan, chess grandmasterhttps://www.thetimes.com/uk/london/article/british-chess-prodigy-11-youngest-woman-grandmaster-7bn3b3zvs British chess prodigy, 11, becomes youngest woman grandmaster www.thetimes.com 2026-09-27 Amelia Stout subscription May 2 May – Princess Charlottehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32562117 Royal baby Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to daughter BBC 2 May 2015 Deaths Deaths in 2015 January right|thumb|180px|Leon Brittan (1939–2015) in 2011 thumb|right|180px|Barrie Ingham (1932–2015) in 2011 1 January Barbara Atkinson, 88, actress. Matthew Cogley, 30, musician and songwriter (Failsafe). Fiona Cumming, 77, actress and director (Doctor Who). 2 January Danny Dunton, 90, speedway rider and promoter. Bob Gilmore, 53, musicologist. Roger Kitter, 64, actor ('Allo 'Allo!) Derek Minter, 82, Grand Prix motorcycle and short-circuit road racer.Patterson Simon Derek Minter passes away aged 82 MCN motorcyclenews.com 5 January 2015 http://www.motorcyclenews.com/sport/motogp/2015/january/derek-minter-passes-away-age-82/ 9 January 2015 3 January – Terence Ranger, 85, historian of Africa. 4 January John McPhee, 77, footballer (Blackpool, Motherwell). Bernard Williams, 72, film producer (A Clockwork Orange, Ragtime, Star Trek Generations). 5 January Khan Bonfils, 42, actor (Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Batman Begins, Skyfall). Albert Firth, 77, rugby league footballer (Wakefield Trinity). Ken Hale, 75, football player and manager. Anthony Ledwith, 81, chemist. Geoff Truett, 79, footballer (Crystal Palace). 6 January Gene Kemp, 88, children's author (The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler). Sir Basil John Mason, 91, meteorologist. Lance Percival, 81, actor and comedian. 7 January Michael Fisher, 68, solicitor. Nancy Thomas, 96, television producer (Monitor). 8 January Peter Hill, 83, footballer (Coventry City). Richard Meade, 76, Olympic equestrian. Ray McFall, 88, former The Cavern Club owner. 10 January Brian Clemens, 83, screenwriter (Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde) and television producer (The Avengers). Roger Wosahlo, 67, footballer (Peterborough). 11 January Chic Littlewood, 84, New Zealand television personality. Albert McPherson, 87, footballer (Walsall) and coach (West Bromwich Albion). 12 January John Bayley, 89, literary critic and writer. Steve Gold, 58, computer journalist. Paul Morgan, 40, rugby union and rugby league footballer. 13 January Sir Jack Hayward, 91, businessman. Mike Marqusee, 61, writer and activist. Ronnie Ronalde, 91, music hall singer and siffleur. Trevor Ward-Davies, 70, bassist (Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich). 14 January Danny Malloy, 84, footballer (Cardiff City, Dundee). Darren Shahlavi, 42, actor (Arrow, Night at the Museum, Watchmen) and martial artist. 15 January Ena Baxter, 90, food manufacturer (Baxters). Archibald Kennedy, 8th Marquess of Ailsa, 58, peer, hereditary chief of Clan Kennedy. Ethel Lang, 114, last person living in the UK who was born in the reign of Queen Victoria. 16 January Bill Dodd, 78, footballer. Ted Harrison, 88, painter. Tony Ridler, 59, darts player. 17 January Ken Furphy, 83, footballer and manager. Louis Martin, 78, weightlifter, Olympic silver (1964) and bronze (1960) medalist. Terence Miller, 96, palaeontologist. 18 January – June Randall, 87, British script supervisor (The Spy Who Loved Me, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining). 19 January Anne Kirkbride, 60, actress (Coronation Street). Bob Symes, 90, inventor and television presenter. 21 January Leon Brittan, 75, politician, Home Secretary (1983–85). Martin Honeysett, 71, cartoonist and illustrator. Frank Hooley, 91, politician, MP for Sheffield Heeley (1966–1970, 1974–1983). Pauline Yates, 85, actress (The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin). 22 January Douglas Cromb, 84, football administrator (Hibernian). Joan Hinde, 81, trumpeter and entertainer. 23 January – Barrie Ingham, 82, actor (The Great Mouse Detective, Doctor Who, A Challenge for Robin Hood). 24 January Peter Bridges, 89, Anglican priest, Archdeacon of Southend (1972–1977), Coventry (1977–1983) and Warwick (1983–1990). Frances Lennon, 102, artist. Vic Groves, 82, footballer. 25 January Sir Robert Atkinson, 98, businessman and naval officer. Pauline Fisk, 66. author. Ian Towers, 74, footballer (Burnley, Oldham Athletic). 26 January – Lee Spick, 34, snooker player. 27 January Roger Cowley, 75, physicist. David Landau, 67, journalist and newspaper editor (Haaretz). Margot Moir, 55, singer (The Moir Sisters). 28 January Francis Bennion, 92, lawyer. Tommie Manderson, 102, make-up artist (An Age of Kings, Alien, The Killing Fields). Beric Morley, 71, architectural historian. Katharine Worth, 92, drama academic. 29 January Terry Hollindrake, 80, rugby league player. Noel Lister, 87, businessman (MFI). Danny McCulloch, 69, bassist (The Animals) Derek S. Pugh, 84, psychologist and business theorist. Derek Robertson, 65, footballer (St Johnstone). 30 January Johnny Goodman, 87, television producer. Harold Hassall, 85, footballer (Bolton Wanderers). John Hopkins, 78, photographer, activist and promoter (Notting Hill Carnival, International Times). Howard Norris, 80, rugby union player (Wales national union team, British and Irish Lions). Geraldine McEwan, 82, actress (Agatha Christie's Marple). February thumb|180px|right|Jeffrey Segal (1920–2015) in 2008 thumb|180px|right|Steve Strange (1959–2015), the lead singer of Visage in 2014 thumb|right|180px|Pamela Cundell (1920–2015) in 2011 thumb|right|180px|John Davies (1938–2015) 1 February Sir Douglas Hague, 88, economist. Gordon Murray, 87, politician. Beryl Platt, Baroness Platt of Writtle, 91, engineer and politician. Michael Saward, 82, Anglican priest and hymnist. Marie-José Villiers, 98, WWII spy and countess. 2 February Roy Little, 83, footballer (Manchester City). Johnny Campbell, 86, footballer (Gateshead). Sandra Chalmers, 74, broadcaster (Woman's Hour). Ken Hawkes, 81, footballer (Luton Town). 3 February – Sir Martin Gilbert, 78, historian and biographer, member of the Iraq Inquiry panel. 4 February Richard Bonehill, 67, actor and stuntman (Doctor Who, Return of the Jedi). Martin Green, 82, writer and publisher. 5 February Sir Gordon Linacre, 94, newspaper executive and bomber pilot. Jeffrey Segal, 94, actor (Fawlty Towers, Z-Cars). 6 February – Carl Cunningham-Cole, ceramic artist. 7 February Robert Gavron, Baron Gavron, 84, businessman and philanthropist, Labour life peer. Brian Reynolds, 82, cricketer (Northamptonshire). 8 February Stan Cowan, 83, rugby league player (Hull). John Hart, 93, ballet dancer and artistic director (Ballet West). Andrew Rosenfeld, 52, businessman. Sir David Watson, 65, academic and educationalist (University of Oxford). 9 February Roy Harris, 83, linguist. Drew McDonald, 59, professional wrestler. Nicholas Mackintosh, 79, experimental psychologist. Nick Sharkey, 71, footballer (Sunderland). 10 February Sir Noel Davies, 81, chief executive (Vickers). John Fox, 90, composer and conductor. Sir William Lawrence, 5th Baronet, 60, peer. Tom McQueen, 85, footballer (Accrington Stanley, Hibernian). Anne Naysmith, 77, concert pianist. 11 February Christopher Greener, 71, basketball player and actor. Gus Moffat, 66, football player and coach. 12 February Anthony Low, 87, historian. Oliver Rackham, 75, landscape ecologist. Steve Strange, 55, musician (Visage). Mike Thresh, 84, plant pathologist. 13 February John McCabe, 75, composer and pianist. Dan Tunstall Pedoe, 75, cardiologist. Hugh Walters, 75, actor. 14 February Pamela Cundell, 95, actress (Dad's Army, EastEnders, A Fantastic Fear of Everything). Sheila Girling, 90, British artist. John D. Hargreaves, 91, historian. Alan Howard, 77, actor. Richard Perham, 77, molecular biologist. 15 February Eileen Essell, 92, actress. John Treadgold, 83, Anglican priest, Dean of Chichester (1989–2001). 16 February Gavin Clark, 46, singer (UNKLE, Clayhill). John Davies, 76, historian. Brett Ewins, 59, comic book artist (Judge Dredd, 2000 AD). Geoff Morris, 66, footballer (Walsall). Sir Robert Wade-Gery, 85, diplomat, High Commissioner to India (1982–1987). 17 February – George Mackie, Baron Mackie of Benshie, 95, politician, Liberal Democrat life peer. 18 February – Allan Beard, 95, civil servant. (death announced on this date) 19 February – Dennis Davis, 88, mountaineer. 20 February – Sandy Whitelaw, 84, film producer and executive. 21 February Meredydd Evans, 95, professor, musician and television producer. Sir Anthony Grabham, 84, surgeon and army officer. John Knapp-Fisher, 83, painter. Christopher Price, 83, politician, MP for Birmingham Perry Barr (1966–1970) and Lewisham West (1974–1983). Daniel Topolski, 69, rowing coach and commentator. 22 February – Roger Cecil, 72, painter. 23 February James Aldridge, 96, writer (The Sea Eagle). David Freeman, 86, solicitor. Andy King, 72, footballer (Kilmarnock F.C.). Gerald Lockwood, 87, English rugby league player. John Rowlands, 76, author and novelist. Dave Williams, 72, football player and coach (Newport County). 24 February Joseph Beltrami, 83, lawyer. Geoffrey Owen Whittaker, 83, civil servant, Governor of Anguilla (1987–1989). 25 February Marie Cathcart, Countess Cathcart, 91, peeress Terry Gill, 75, actor ("Crocodile" Dundee, Prisoner (TV series), The Flying Doctors). Chris Rainbow, 68, rock musician (The Alan Parsons Project). Raymond Smallman, 85, metallurgist. Victor Watson, 86, businessman and philanthropist 26 February Bob Braithwaite, 89, Olympian trap shooter. Brian Cumby, 64, British shipwright. Sheppard Frere, 98, historian and archaeologist. Victor Watson, 86, executive (Waddingtons). 27 February Patrick Whitefield, 66, permaculturist. Joanne Woollard, film art director (Gravity). 28 February Clifford Edmund Bosworth, 86, oriental historian. Sarah Foot, 75, journalist and author. March thumb|180px|right|Terry Pratchett (1948–2015), the author of the acclaimed Discworld series thumb|180px|right|Dave Mackay (1934–2015) in 2006 thumb|180px|right|Suzanne Farrington (centre) (1933–2015) in 1950 1 March Malcolm Bennett, 56, poet and author. William Bowyer, 88, painter. Suzanne Farrington, 81, daughter of Vivien Leigh. Stuart McGrady, 29, footballer (Ayr United, Queen's Park). Matthew Young, 70, civil servant and executive (Panini Group). 2 March Dennis Barker, 85, journalist. Leslie Chamberlain, 81, English rugby league footballer. Dave Mackay, 80, football player and manager (Tottenham Hotspur, Derby County). Jem Marsh, 84, automotive engineer, co-founder of Marcos Engineering. Mal Peet, 67, author and illustrator. 3 March Ernest Braun, 89, academic and author. Denis Coe, 86, politician, MP for Middleton and Prestwich (1966–1970). Roy McCrohan, 84, footballer (Norwich City). 4 March Ray Hatton, 83, author. John Simopoulos, 91, philosopher. 6 March Mick Clark, 78, rugby league player (Leeds). Osi Rhys Osmond, painter and television presenter. 7 March – Derek Day, 87, diplomat, Ambassador to Ethiopia (1975–1978) and High Commissioner to Canada (1984–1987). 9 March – James Molyneaux, Baron Molyneaux of Killead, 94, Northern Irish Unionist politician. 10 March Vic Harris, 69, snooker player. Kenneth Smales, 87, cricketer and football administrator. Stuart Wagstaff, 90, entertainer. John Howard Wilson, 85, rugby union player. 11 March Marni Hodgkin, 97, book editor. Christopher Morris, 72, accountant. Harri Pritchard Jones, 81, writer, critic, and psychiatrist. 12 March Geoff Coffin, 90, footballer (Chester City). Jim Rhodes, 69, golf player. Terry Pratchett, 66, author (Discworld series). Alice Teichova, 94, economic historian. Sir Jerry Wiggin, 78, politician, MP for Weston-super-Mare (1969–1997). 13 March Lilian Bader, 97, WAAF aircraftwoman and teacher. Jenifer Haselgrove, 84, physicist and computer scientist. Jeff Rees, 94, WWII RAF officer. Vincent Wong, 87, British actor (Doctor Who, James Bond, Batman) 14 March L. S. Cousins, 72, scholar in Buddhist studies. Rosalind Dallas, 66, television graphic designer. Milton Huddart, 54, English rugby league footballer (Whitehaven). 15 March Robert Clatworthy, 87, sculptor. Fritz Wegner, 90, illustrator. 16 March Stuart Croft, 45, filmmaker and educator. Andy Fraser, 62, musician (John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Free) and songwriter ("All Right Now", "Every Kinda People"). 17 March – Bob Appleyard, 90, cricketer (Yorkshire, national team). 18 March – Shaw Taylor, 90, actor and television presenter. 19 March David Harrison, 88, zoologist (Harrison Institute). Peter Katin, 84, pianist. Joy Tamblin, 89, WRAF officer. 20 March Mary Clarke, 91, dance critic. Eddie Mulheron, 72, footballer (Clyde, Durban United). 21 March John Dymoke, 88, noble, Queen's Champion. John Walter Guerrier Lund, 102, psychologist. Sir Hal Miller, 86, politician, Member of Parliament (1974–1992). Sir James Spicer, 89, politician, MP for West Dorset (1974–1997). Jackie Trent, 74, singer-songwriter and actress. Robert Williams, 89, chemist. 22 March Derek Chinnery, 89, radio controller (BBC Radio 1). Anthony Garner, 88, political organiser. Helen Landis, 92, singer and actress. 23 March Lil' Chris, 24, singer-songwriter, actor, and television personality. Roy Douglas, 107, composer. 24 March Ian Isles, 96, WWII army officer and actuary. R. Geraint Gruffydd, 86, celtist. 25 March Martyn Goff, 91, bookseller, administrator of the Man Booker Prize. Jimmy McGill (footballer, born 1946), 68, footballer (Huddersfield Town, Hull City). Jeannette Obstoj, 65, lyricist (Break Every Rule). Allen Sheppard, Baron Sheppard of Didgemere, 82, industrialist and politician. Ron Suart, 94, football player and manager (Chelsea). 26 March Anne Bannister, 78, psychotherapist. Albert Irvin, 92, abstract artist. Ian Moir, 71, footballer (Manchester United, Wrexham). John Renbourn, 70, guitarist (Pentangle). 27 March Pauline Brockless, 85, opera singer. Anthony Scrivener, lawyer. 28 March Joseph Cassidy, 60, Anglican priest and academic, Principal of St Chad's College. Denis Eadie, 98, WWII army officer. Amos Ford, 98, forester. Josie Jones, 57, singer (The Mighty Wah!). Ronald Stevenson, 87, composer and pianist. 29 March Romany Bain, 91, show-business journalist. Gerry Hardstaff, 75, cricket player. John Sheppard, 93, car designer. Peter Tarsey, 77, Olympic diver (1956). 30 March – Trevor Williams, 76, plant geneticist. 31 March Ricky Marsh, 88, journalist. Anthony Saxton, 80, advertising executive. Dalibor Vesely, 79, architectural historian. April thumb|180px|right|Cynthia Lennon (1939–2015) in 1964 thumb|180px|right|Ronnie Carroll (1934–2015), at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1962 1 April Cynthia Lennon, 75, wife of John Lennon (1962–1968). Dave Ball, 65, musician (Procol Harum). 2 April Hayley Okines, 17, progeria campaigner. Dennis Marks, 66, television producer and music director. Eugene Vielle, 101, air force officer and inventor. 3 April Michael Birkett, 2nd Baron Birkett, 85, hereditary peer and film producer. Nigel Boocock, 77, speedway rider. Andrew Porter, 86, music critic. Chris Plumridge, 70, golf writer. Christopher Reynolds, 92, linguist. Robert Rietti, 92, actor. 4 April Bill Ellerington, 91, footballer (Southampton). Sir John Read, 97, executive. 5 April Maurice Fenner, 86, cricketer. Tony Hutton, 82, Royal Navy officer. Sargy Mann, 77, painter. Louis Miles Muggleton, 92, physicist. 6 April Dave Ulliott, 61, professional poker player. Alan Wilson, 94, cricketer (Lancashire County Cricket Club). 7 April Tom Coyne, 84, news broadcaster and television presenter (Top Gear). Harry Dowd, 76, footballer (Manchester City). Dickie Owen, 88, actor (Zulu). Donald Smith, 81, cricket player (Cheshire). Janet Turner, 78, architectural lighting designer. 8 April Graham Howarth, 99, entomologist. Billy Ronson, 58, footballer. Ion Trewin, 71, editor, publisher and author. 9 April Alexander Dalgarno, 87, physicist. Moira Gemmill, 55, designer.Ben Morgan Louise Jury David Churchill Justin Davenport https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-arts-visionary-moira-gemmill-killed-by-lorry-while-cycling-near-lambeth-bridge-10167161.html London arts visionary Moira Gemmill killed by lorry while cycling near Lambeth Bridge London Evening Standard 10 April 2015 11 April 2015 10 April Ronald Hambleton, 97, broadcaster and music critic (Toronto Star). Margaret Rule, 86, archaeologist. 11 April Guy Hannen, 90, WWII army officer and auctioneer. Peter Jones, 95, WWII army officer. Sheila Kitzinger, 86, natural childbirth activist. Viv Nicholson, 79, football pools winner. 12 April Bill Etches, 93, WWII army officer (St Nazaire Raid). Doug Gregory, 92, Royal Air Force officer and stunt pilot. 13 April Ronnie Carroll, 80, singer and political candidate. Tony Eldridge, 91, Royal Navy officer (Chariot manned torpedo). Claire Gordon, 74, actress (Konga, Beat Girl). Rex Robinson, 89, actor (Doctor Who, Yes Minister, Only Fools and Horses). 14 April Gordon Preston, 89, mathematician. Kathrine Sorley Walker, 95, ballet critic. 15 April Joseph A. Bennett, 44, actor. Margaret Harrison, 96, peace campaigner. 16 April – Tommy Preston, 82, footballer (Hibernian). 17 April Steve Beck, 58, executive, chairman of York City F.C. (2003–2004). Brian Couzens, 82, music industry executive (Chandos Records). Peter Graham, 60, cricketer. Keith Shackleton, 92, painter and television presenter. 18 April – Sir Christopher Alan Bayly, 69, historian. 19 April Sir Raymond Carr, 96, historian. Margot Duke, Marchioness of Reading, 96, British aristocrat. Tom McCabe, 60, politician, Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform (2004–2007). Michael J. D. Powell, 78, mathematician. 20 April Tommy Graham, 72, politician. Roy Mason, 91, politician. Peter Howell, 95, actor (Emergency – Ward 10, The Lord of the Rings, The Prisoner). 21 April Derek Vonberg, 93, British physicist. (death announced on this date) Dave Walker, 73, footballer (Burnley, Southampton). 22 April Dick Balharry, 77, conservationist. Desmond Boal, 85, lawyer and politician. Bernard Penfold, 98, British Army general, general manager of the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club (1972–1979). 23 April – Sir Philip Carter, 87, football director (Everton). 24 April Ken Birch, 81, footballer (Bangor City). Valentine Lamb, 76, journalist (The Irish Field). 25 April Arthur Brittenden, 90, newspaper editor. Richard West, 84, journalist and author. Colin Bloomfield, 33, radio presenter (BBC Radio Derby). 27 April Jay Appleton, 95, geographer. David Fletcher, 90, cricketer (Surrey). Chris Turner, 64, football player and manager (Peterborough). John Wimpenny, 92, aeronautical engineer. 28 April Keith Harris, 67, ventriloquist. James Watson, 78, novelist. 29 April Gary Liddell, 60, footballer (Grimsby Town, Heart of Midlothian). Barbara Reynolds, 100, scholar, lexicographer and translator. Brian Sedgemore, 78, politician. 30 April Ronald Senator, 89, composer. Nigel Terry, 69, actor. May thumb|180px|right|Ruth Rendell (1930–2015) in 2007 thumb|180px|right|Flora MacNeil (1928–2015) in 2006 thumb|180px|right|Raymond Gosling (1926–2015), who helped deduce the structure of DNA, in 2003 1 May Jamie Bishop, 44, cricketer (Glamorgan). Geoff Duke, 92, motorcycle racer, six-time Grand Prix world champion. Alexander Kok, 89, cellist. Paul Walter Myers, 82, classical record producer. June Williams, 88, zoo owner (Chester Zoo). John Tout, keyboardist (Renaissance). Bob Wareing, 84, politician, MP for Liverpool West Derby (1983–2010). Colin Whitaker, 82, footballer (Shrewsbury Town, Oldham Athletic). 2 May Stuart Archer, 100, recipient of the George Cross. Ryan McHenry, 27, film director and social media personality. Nick Mead, 93, WWII Royal Navy officer. Ruth Rendell, 85, crime novelist (Inspector Wexford series). 3 May John Elders, 84, rugby union player (Leicester). Alan Hall, 62, cell biologist. Danny Jones, 29, rugby league footballer (Wales, Halifax, Keighley Cougars). Elizabeth Raybould, nurse and nursing educator. 4 May Ann Barr, 85, author (The Official Sloane Ranger Handbook). 5 May Gerard Davison, 47, Provisional IRA commander. Jimmy Jones, 87, footballer. Ralph Lainson, 88, parasitologist. Des O'Hagan, 81, politician (Workers' Party). Brian Sedgemore, 78, politician, MP (1974–1979, 1983–2005). 6 May Errol Brown, 71, singer (Hot Chocolate). Michael O'Brien, 67, historian of the American South. 7 May Michael Barratt Brown, 97, economist and political activist. Sir Sam Edwards, 87, physicist. Maurice Flanagan, 86, businessman (Emirates). Rigby Graham, 84, artist. 8 May – Sir Edward Burgess, 87, British Army general. 9 May – Christopher Wood, 79, screenwriter (Moonraker, Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins, The Spy Who Loved Me). 11 May John Hewie, 87, footballer (Charlton Athletic). Isobel Varley, 77, world's most-tattooed senior woman. Derek Walker, 85, architect. 12 May Mervyn Burtch, 86, composer. John Dewes, 88, cricketer (Middlesex, England). Sir Peter Fry, 83, politician, MP (1969–1997). Robin Page, 82, artist. 13 May Eric Bakie, 87, footballer (Dunfermline Athletic, Aberdeen). Bert Hitchen, 76, railway preservationist. 15 May – John Jarvis-Smith, 93, Royal Naval officer and shipbroker. 16 May – Flora MacNeil, 86, singer. 17 May Rex Garner, 94, actor and theatre director. Don Smoothey, 96, actor and comedian. 18 May Tommy Bing, 83, footballer (Margate F.C.). Raymond Gosling, 88, scientist. 19 May Jack Aspinwall, 82, politician, MP (1979–1997). Joe Carr, 83, footballer (St Johnstone). State of Bengal, 50, music producer and DJ. 20 May Edward Adeane, 75, courtier, Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales (1979–1985). Sir Brian Cubbon, 87, civil servant, Permanent Secretary of the Home Office (1979–1988). Eileen Gray, 95, bicycle racer and Mayor of Kingston upon Thames (1990–1991). Sir John Lea, 91, Royal Navy vice-admiral. 21 May David Blake, 90, cricketer (Hampshire). Ernie Hannigan, 72, footballer (Preston North End, Coventry City). Twinkle, 66, singer-songwriter. Alan Woodward, 68, footballer (Sheffield United). 22 May Sir John Horlock, 87, mechanical engineer and university vice-chancellor (Open University, University of Salford). Terry Sue-Patt, 50, actor (Grange Hill). (death announced on this date) Michael Osborne Waddell, 92, WWII army officer. 23 May Moyra Caldecott, 87, writer. Carole Seymour-Jones, 72, biographer. 24 May Morris Beckman, 94, writer and anti-fascist activist (43 Group). Tanith Lee, 67, science-fiction, horror and fantasy writer. Dean Carroll, 52, rugby league footballer (Bradford Northern, Carlisle, Warrington, Batley, Doncaster) 25 May Dewi Bridges, 81, Anglican prelate, Bishop of Swansea and Brecon (1988–1998). Moc Morgan, 86, fly fisherman and naturalist. 26 May William Davidson, 95, cricketer (Sussex). Cyril Roger, 93, speedway rider. 27 May Sir Gordon Hobday, 99, scientist and industrialist. Andy King, 58, footballer (Everton). 28 May – Johnny Keating, 87, musician. 30 May Jake D'Arcy, actor (Still Game). John Drinkall, 93, diplomat, British Ambassador to Afghanistan (1972–1976) and High Commissioner to Jamaica (1976–1981). Hugh Griffiths, Baron Griffiths, 91, jurist and law lord. Julie Harris, 94, costume designer (Live and Let Die, A Hard Day's Night). Tony McNamara, 85, footballer (Everton, Liverpool). 31 May Roy Ralph, 94, cricketer (Essex). (death announced on this date) Christina Reid, 73, playwright. June thumb|180px|right|Charles Kennedy (1959–2015) in 2009 thumb|180px|right|Sir Christopher Lee (1922–2015) at the Berlin International Film Festival of 2013 thumb|180px|right|Ron Moody (1924–2015) in 1975 1 June Charles Jacob, 94, stockbroker. Charles Kennedy, 55, politician, MP (1983–2015) and leader of the Liberal Democrats (1999–2006). 2 June Martin Cole, 83, sexologist. Dennis Fidler, 76, footballer (Halifax Town, Macclesfield Town). Clemens Nathan, 81, humanitarian. Kenneth Tempest, 93, WWII Royal Air Force navigator. 4 June Allan Fryer, 60, musician (Heaven). Marguerite Patten, 99, cookery writer and home economist. Roy Stroud, 90, footballer (West Ham). Dame Anne Warburton, 87, diplomat, British Ambassador to Denmark (1976–1983), Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva (1983–1985), President of Lucy Cavendish College (1985–1994). Ray Weigh, 86, footballer. 5 June Alan Bond, 77, businessman. Ralph Hyde, 76, curator. Jill Hyem, 78, scriptwriter and actress. Richard Johnson, 87, actor (The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders, Julius Caesar, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas). Nick Marsh, 53, singer (Flesh for Lulu). 6 June Barry Albin-Dyer, 64, undertaker. Colin Jackson, 68, footballer (Scotland, Rangers). 7 June Ken Barrett, 77, footballer (Aston Villa). John Hurry, 95, WWII air force officer. Sir Christopher Lee, 93, actor and singer (Dracula, The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars). Gwilym Prichard, 84, painter. 8 June – Laurie Thompson, 77, translator. 10 June David Bellotti, 71, politician and football executive, MP for Eastbourne (1990–1992), CEO of Brighton & Hove Albion. Charles Wyndham Goodwyn, 81, philatelist, Keeper of the Royal Philatelic Collection (1995–2003) 11 June Ian McKechnie, 73, footballer (Hull City). Ron Moody, 91, actor (Oliver!, The Animals of Farthing Wood, EastEnders). James Robertson, 86, footballer (Brentford). Charles Williams, 90, Royal Navy rear admiral. 12 June James Gowan, 91, architect. Ernest Tomlinson, 90, composer. 13 June – Graham Lord, 72, biographer and novelist. 14 June – Phil Judd, 81, rugby union player (Coventry). 15 June – Rosalind Rowe, 82, table tennis player. 16 June Howard Johnson, 89, footballer (Sheffield United). (death announced on this date) Bill Sirs, 95, trade unionist. Catharni Stern, 89, sculptor. 18 June – Brian Taylor, 78, footballer (Walsall, Shrewsbury Town). 19 June – Jim Brailsford, 85, cricket player (Derbyshire). 20 June Ian Bradley, 77, New Zealand navy officer and politician. Michael Kidson, 85, schoolmaster (Eton College). 21 June Jim Rowan, 79, footballer (Airdrieonians, Celtic, Partick Thistle). Carl Thompson, 33, heaviest man in the United Kingdom. Jules Wright, 67, theatre director (Royal Court Theatre). 22 June James Carnegie, 3rd Duke of Fife, 85, nobleman. Malcolm Colledge, 75, archaeologist. 23 June Jack Asher, 88, shinty player and referee. Elizabeth MacLennan, 77, actress, writer and stage practitioner (7:84). Ajit Singh, 74, economist. Sir Chris Woodhead, 68, educationalist, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in England (1994–2000). 24 June John Palmer, 64, career criminal. John Winn, 94, army officer. 25 June Sir Graham Dorey, 82, judge, Bailiff of Guernsey (1992–1999). Gordon Fearnley, 65, footballer (Bristol Rovers). Patrick Macnee, 93, actor (The Avengers, This Is Spinal Tap, A View to a Kill). 26 June Larry Carberry, 79, footballer (Ipswich Town). David McAlister, 64, actor (Hollyoaks). Norman Poole, 95, WWII paratrooper. Denis Thwaites, 70, footballer (Birmingham City), victim of the 2015 Sousse attacks.http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/family-ex-birmingham-city-star-12511813 Family of ex-Birmingham City star killed by terrorists speak Graeme Brown 26 January 2017 BirminghamLive Michelle Watt, 38, television presenter (60 Minute Makeover). 27 June - Chris Squire, 67, bass guitarist (Yes). 28 June Ian Allan, 92, publisher (Ian Allan Publishing). Edgar Dawson, 83, rugby league footballer. Joe Lobenstein, 88, politician and Mayor of Hackney (1997–2001) 29 June Bill Cross, 97, WWII soldier. Joseph Bryan Nelson, 83, ornithologist. Kauto Star, 15, British trained racehorse, dual winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Bruce Rowland, 74, rock drummer (Fairport Convention). 30 June Edward Burnham, 98, actor (To Sir, with Love, 10 Rillington Place, Doctor Who). Robert Dewar, 70, computer scientist (AdaCore). Alex Scott, 85–86, actor. (death reported on this date) July thumb|180px|right|Sir Nicholas Winton (1909–2015) in Prague in 2007 thumb|180px|right|John Taylor (1942–2015) in 2008 thumb|180px|right|Eddie Hardin (1949–2015) 1 July Edward Greenfield, 86, music critic and broadcaster. Mike Lesser, 71, mathematical philosopher and political activist. Charles Notcutt, 81, horticulturalist. Sir Nicholas Winton, 106, humanitarian. Russell Wood, 85, cricket player (Gloucestershire). 2 July – Jim Bradley, 94, athletics coach. 4 July John Hinds, 35, motorcycle race doctor, anaesthetist and lecturer. Anthony F. Upton, 85, historian. Alan Walton, 79, biochemist and venture capitalist. 5 July Andrew Alexander, 80, journalist (Daily Mail). Sir Philip Goodhart, 89, politician, MP for Beckenham (1957–1992). Joseph McKenzie, 86, photographer. 6 July Terence Kelshaw, 78, Episcopal Bishop of Rio Grande (1989–2004). Sir John Lambert, 94, diplomat, Ambassador to Tunisia (1977–1981). Fraser Scott, 95, army officer. 8 July – Lloyd Reckord, 86, actor and director. 9 July Caspar Bowden, 53, privacy advocate. Bill Foord, 91, cricket player (Yorkshire). Bill Hunter, 95, political activist and author. 10 July Rosemary Dinnage, 87, author and reviewer. Peter Jones, 85, journalist and author. Jimmy Murray, 82, footballer (Heart of Midlothian, Scotland). Roger Rees, 71, actor (Cheers, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, The West Wing). Grahame Vivian, 95, army officer. 11 July Joyce M. Bennett, 92, Anglican priest. Mark Birdwood, 3rd Baron Birdwood, 76, peer and politician. J.P.C. Roach, 95, historian. 13 July Michael Rayner, 82, opera singer. Martin Litchfield West, 77, classical scholar. Eric Wrixon, 68, keyboardist (Them, Thin Lizzy). 14 July – Olaf Pooley, 101, actor and writer (Doctor Who, Star Trek: Voyager, Sunday Night Theatre). 15 July Aubrey Morris, 89, actor (A Clockwork Orange, Love and Death, The Wicker Man). 16 July Denis Avey, 96, World War II veteran and memoirist. Sir Jack Goody, 95, social anthropologist. Brian Hall, 68, footballer (Liverpool). 17 July Owen Chadwick, 99, rugby player, historian, and theologian. Ray Jessel, 85, scriptwriter and songwriter (Baker Street). John McCluskey, 71, boxer. Nova Pilbeam, 95, actress (The Man Who Knew Too Much, Young and Innocent, Tudor Rose). John Taylor, 72, jazz pianist. 18 July Dave Black, 62, musician (Goldie). Allan Willett, 78/9, soldier, businessman and Lord-Lieutenant of Kent (2002–2011). 19 July – Samantha Cawkwell, 31, dressage equestrian rider. 20 July Tom Beard, 50, actor (Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, Hereafter, Wallander). Fred Else, 82, footballer (Preston North End). 21 July – Mike Turner, 80, cricketer (Leicestershire). 22 July Barbara Calvert, 89, barrister. Eddie Hardin, 66, rock musician and singer-songwriter (Spencer Davis Group). Natasha Parry, 84, actress (Romeo and Juliet, Oh! What a Lovely War, Meetings with Remarkable Men). 24 July – Gordon Stuart, 91, artist. 25 July Robin Phillips, 73, actor (Tales from the Crypt, Doctor Who). 26 July Peggy Evans, 94, actress (The Blue Lamp). Lee Harwood, 76, poet. 27 July Edward Campbell, 71, rugby league footballer of the 1960s, and 1970s. Paul Langford, 69, historian, Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford (2000–2012). Chris Lazari, 69, property developer. Anthony Shaw, 85, army general, Director General Army Medical Services (1988–1990). 28 July John M. Hull, 80, theologian. David Leaning, 78, Anglican priest. 29 July Antony Holland, 95, actor, playwright, and theatre director. Sir Peter O'Sullevan, 97, horse racing commentator. 31 July Coralie de Burgh, 90, painter. Derek Turner, 82, English rugby league player (Wakefield Trinity). August thumb|180px|right|Cilla Black (1943–2015) in 1970 thumb|180px|right|Robert Conquest (1917–2015) in 1987 thumb|180px|right|Anna Kashfi (1934–2015) in 1959 thumb|180px|right|Justin Wilson (1978–2015) in 2007 thumb|180px|right|Oliver Sacks (1933–2015) in 2009 1 August – Cilla Black, 72, singer ("It's for You", "You're My World", "Step Inside Love"), television presenter (Blind Date, Surprise Surprise, The Moment of Truth) and actress. 2 August Sammy Cox, 91, footballer (Scotland, Rangers). Ken Jones, 85, author and Buddhist activist. Ken Lewis, 74, singer and songwriter (Can't You Hear My Heartbeat). 3 August Carol Brown Janeway, 71, translator. Robert Conquest, 98, historian (The Great Terror). 4 August Ken Barnes, 82, writer and record producer. Arthur Dorward, 90, rugby union player. 5 August Simon Burrows, 86, Anglican prelate, Bishop of Buckingham (1974–1994). George Cole, 90, actor (Minder, St. Trinian's, Mary Reilly). Mark Herdman, 83, diplomat, Governor of the British Virgin Islands (1986–1991). Arthur Walter James, 103, journalist, editor of the Times Educational Supplement (1952–1969). Tony Millington, 72, footballer (Wales, Swansea City, Peterborough United). 6 August – Danny Hegan, 72, footballer (Northern Ireland, Ipswich Town, Wolves). 7 August – Neville Neville, 65, cricketer and football club director (Bury). 8 August Sir Alec Atkinson, 96, WWII air force officer and civil servant. Ronald Gordon, 88, Anglican prelate, Bishop of Portsmouth (1975–1984) and Bishop at Lambeth (1984–1992). Christopher Marshall, 66, doctor and cancer researcher.ICR mourns loss of Research Director Professor Chris Marshall http://www.icr.ac.uk/news-archive/icr-mourns-loss-of-research-director-professor-chris-marshall 10 August 2015 9 August Jack Gold, 85, film director (The Naked Civil Servant, Aces High). David Nobbs, 80, novelist and comedy writer (The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, The Two Ronnies, Fairly Secret Army). Jonathan Ollivier, 38, ballet dancer. Susan Sheridan, 68, voice actress (The Black Cauldron, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Noddy's Toyland Adventures). 11 August – Philip Arthur Whitcombe, 92, cricketer and army officer. 12 August Stephen Lewis, 88, comedy actor (On the Buses, Last of the Summer Wine, Don't Drink the Water). Chris Marustik, 54, footballer (Wales, Swansea City, Cardiff City, Newport County). John Scott, 59, organist and choirmaster. 14 August – Jazz Summers, 71, music manager (Scissor Sisters, The Verve, Snow Patrol). 15 August – Malcolm Craddock, 77, television producer (Sharpe) 16 August Anna Kashfi, 80, actress. Kitty McGeever, 44, actress (Emmerdale). George Merchant, 89, footballer (Dundee, Falkirk). 17 August William B. Bonnor, 94, physicist and mathematician. Marlene Jefferson, 81, politician. 18 August Beata Brookes, 84, politician, MEP for North Wales (1979–1989). Hugh Courtenay, 18th Earl of Devon, 73, nobleman. Russell Henderson, 91, jazz musician. Charles Read, 57, mathematician. Edgar Rumney, 78, footballer (Colchester United). Roger Smalley, 72, composer. 21 August Sir Bob Hepple, 81, legal scholar, Master of Clare College, Cambridge (1993–2003). Denise Marshall, 53, equal rights campaigner Gerry Steinberg, 70, politician, MP for City of Durham (1987–2005). 22 August Tommy Lowry, 69, footballer (Crewe Alexandra). Andy Mapple, 52, waterskier. Eric Thompson, 95, racing driver. Charles Tomlinson, 88, poet and poetry translator. 23 August – Joanna Strathdee, 60, politician. 24 August Justin Wilson, 37, racing driver. Annette Worsley-Taylor, 71, fashion promoter. 25 August Colin Fry, 53, TV personality. Geraint Stanley Jones, 79, television executive (BBC Wales, S4C). 26 August Junaid Hussain, 21, hacker and Islamist propagandist. P. J. Kavanagh, 84, poet. 27 August – Teresa Gorman, 83, politician, MP for Billericay (1987–2001). 28 August John Buckingham, 72, chemist. Lindsay Charnock, 60, jockey. 29 August Robin Bilbie, 73, cricketer (Nottinghamshire). Graham Leggat, 81, footballer (Aberdeen, Fulham, Scotland). Ron Searle, 96, politician, Mayor of Mississauga (1976–1978). Sir Kenneth Stowe, 88, civil servant. 30 August George Fisher, 90, footballer (Millwall, Colchester United). Brian Hord, 81, chartered surveyor and politician, MEP for London West (1979–1984). Oliver Sacks, 82, neurologist and author (The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, Awakenings). David Williamson, Baron Williamson of Horton, 81, civil servant and peer, Convenor of the Cross-Bench Peers (2004–2007). 31 August Joy Beverley, 91, singer (Beverley Sisters). Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, 88, nobleman. September thumb|180px|right|Judy Carne (1939–2015) in 1962 thumb|180px|right|Sir David Willcocks (1919–2015) (centre) with Mellisma thumb|180px|right|Jackie Collins (1937–2015), whose books have sold over 500 million copies, in 2011 2 September Stan Kane, 86, actor (Storm). Tessa Ransford, 77, poet and founder of the Scottish Poetry Library. Roland Rees, 73, theatre director. William Arbuckle Reid, 82, curriculum theorist. 3 September Sir Adrian Cadbury, 86, businessman and rower. Judy Carne, 76, actress and comedian (Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In). Harold Drasdo, 85, rock climber and writer. Dan Eley, 100, chemist (Eley-Rideal mechanism). Ken Horne, 89, footballer (Brentford). John Waller, 91, Anglican prelate, Bishop of Stafford (1979–1987). 4 September Claus Moser, Baron Moser, 92, statistician. Rico Rodriguez, 80, trombonist (The Specials). Jonathan Woolf, 54, architect. 5 September Colin Faver, 63, disc jockey and founder of Kiss FM. Yotaro Kobayashi, 82, businessman (Fuji Xerox). 6 September Ralph Milne, 54, footballer (Dundee United, Manchester United). Peter Walker, 65, RAF officer and Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey (since 2011). 7 September – David Cregan, 83, playwright. 9 September – John Allen, 83, Anglican priest, Provost of Wakefield (1982–1997). 10 September – Beryl Renwick, 89, radio broadcaster. 12 September John Emerton, 87, Hebraist, Regius Professor of Hebrew at Cambridge University (1968–1995). Malcolm Graham, 81, footballer (Barnsley, Leyton Orient, Queens Park Rangers). Kenneth Leech, 76, Anglican priest and theologian, founded Centrepoint. Bryn Merrick, 56, bassist (The Damned). Ron Springett, 80, footballer (Sheffield Wednesday). 13 September Brian Close, 84, cricketer (Yorkshire, Somerset, England) and footballer (Leeds United, Arsenal, Bradford City). Barrie Meyer, 83, footballer (Bristol Rovers, Bristol City, Plymouth Argyle) and cricketer (Gloucestershire). Raymond Mould, 74, property developer and racehorse owner. Ted Smith, 95, nature conservationist. 14 September Martin Kearns, 38, drummer (Bolt Thrower). Bob Ledger, 77, footballer (Huddersfield Town, Oldham Athletic, Mansfield Town). 15 September Keith Remfry, 67, judoka, Olympic silver medallist (1976). Tommy Thompson, 86, footballer (Aston Villa, Preston North End). 16 September David Ashby, 65, motorcycle speedway rider. David Cook, 74, British broadcaster and writer. Robert Kilpatrick, Baron Kilpatrick of Kincraig, 89, physician and life peer. Allan Wright, 95, WWII airman and Battle of Britain veteran. 17 September Sir Peter Heatly, 91, diver, chairman of the Commonwealth Games Federation. Joe Maiden, 74, horticulturist. Sir David Willcocks, 95, choirmaster and director of music at Choir of King's College, Cambridge. 19 September Jackie Collins, 77, novelist. Brian Sewell, 84, art critic. 20 September Geoffrey Lilley, 95, British aeronautical scientist. John Parker, 6th Earl of Morley, 92, aristocrat, Lord Lieutenant of Devon (1982–1998). 21 September Juliet Clutton-Brock, 82, zooarchaeologist. Kenneth L. Johnson, engineer. Ray Warleigh, 76, saxophonist and flautist. 22 September – Derek Ware, 77, stuntman and actor (Doctor Who, The Italian Job). 24 September – Michael Howard, 67, pagan author and editor (The Cauldron). 25 September Jim Meadowcroft, 68, snooker player and commentator. Joe Wilson, 78, footballer (Workington Reds, Wolverhampton Wanderers). 27 September Roland Collins, 97, painter. John Guillermin, 89, film director and producer. Frank Tyson, 85, cricketer, journalist and commentator. 28 September Sir Peter Abbott, 73, admiral, Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (1997–2001). Valerie Ganz, 79, painter. Alexander Faris, 94, composer. 29 September – Gillian Gear, 72, English historian and archivist (Barnet Museum). October thumb|180px|right|Denis Healey (1917–2015) in 1974 thumb|180px|right|Jim Diamond (1951–2015) in 2009 thumb|180px|right|Major-General Michael Walsh (1927–2015) in 1984 thumb|180px|right|Sir Michael Beetham (1923–2015) in 1944, when he was a flight lieutenant 1 October Illtyd Harrington, 84, politician. Joe Wark, 67, footballer (Motherwell). 2 October Brian Friel, 86, dramatist. Alex Giannini, 52, actor (Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Legend). Coleridge Goode, 100, jazz bassist. Arthur Lawson Johnston, 3rd Baron Luke, 82, peer and politician. Johnny Paton, 92, footballer (Brentford, Watford, Celtic), coach and manager (Arsenal 'A'). Fred Ridgway, 92, cricketer (Kent, MCC, England). 3 October Denis Healey, Lord Healey, 98, politician, Labour MP (1952–1992), Secretary of State for Defence (1964–1970), and Chancellor of the Exchequer (1974–1979). Christopher Tambling, 50–51, composer and choirmaster. 4 October Jack McKee, 71, politician, Mayor of Larne (1984–1985). Sir John Severne, 90, Royal Air Force officer. 5 October Joe Henson, 82, farmer and conservationist. Niall Rudd, 88, classical scholar. 6 October – Trevor Lloyd, 91, rugby union player (Aberavon Quins, Maesteg). 7 October W. R. Mitchell, 87, writer and editor (Dalesman). Clive Young, 67, Anglican prelate, Bishop of Dunwich (1999–2013). 8 October Richard Davies, 89, actor. Jim Diamond, 64, singer-songwriter ("I Should Have Known Better"). Dora Holzhandler, 87, painter. Hugh Scully, 72, television presenter (Antiques Roadshow). 9 October Gordon Honeycombe, 79, newscaster, author and actor. Geoffrey Howe, Baron Howe of Aberavon, 88, politician, Conservative MP (1964–1992), Chancellor of the Exchequer (1979–1983) and Foreign Secretary (1983–1989). Julia Jones, 92, scriptwriter (Quiet as a Nun, Our Mutual Friend). 10 October Kane Ashcroft, 29, footballer (York City). Sir David Penry-Davey, 73, jurist. Maggie Riley, 79, actress (Hazell, Grange Hill). 11 October David Hunt, 55, racing driver. Carey Lander, 33, keyboard player and singer (Camera Obscura). Andrew Sayers, 58, curator, Director of the National Portrait Gallery of Australia (1998–2010). 12 October Paul King, 63, manager (The Police, Dire Straits). Martin Lange, 71, football executive (Brentford). 13 October Duncan Druce, 76, composer and musicologist. Sue Lloyd-Roberts, 62, television journalist (BBC, ITN). Michael J. H. Walsh, 88, Army general and Scouting leader, Chief Scout (1982–1988). Michael John Wise, 97, geographer. 14 October Bobby Braithwaite, 78, footballer (Linfield, Middlesbrough, Northern Ireland). Sol Roper, 79, rugby league footballer (Workington Town). 15 October – Stella Sutherland, 91, poet. 16 October David Drew, 77, ballet dancer. Julia Wilson Dickson, 66, dialect coach (Braveheart, In Bruges, Chocolat). 17 October Johnny Hamilton, 66, footballer (Hibernian, Rangers, St Johnstone) Howard Kendall, 69, football player and manager (Blackburn Rovers, Everton). Jacky Sutton, 50, journalist. 18 October – Paul West, 85, novelist and poet. 19 October Ron Greener, 81, footballer (Darlington). Patricia Kern, 88, mezzo-soprano and voice teacher. Dick Sharples, 88, scriptwriter. 20 October Michael Meacher, 75, politician, MP for Oldham West (1970–1997) and Oldham West and Royton (1997–2015). Don Rendell, 89, jazz musician. Ian Steel, 87, cyclist. Jane Wardle, 64, clinical psychologist. 21 October Peter Baldwin, 82, actor (Coronation Street). Francis Kiddle, 73, philatelist. Norman W. Moore, 92, conservationist. William Murray, 8th Earl of Mansfield and Mansfield, 85, nobleman and politician. Diana Pullein-Thompson, 90, writer. 22 October Bryan Lowe, 89, cricketer (Cheshire). Joe Moss, 72, music manager (The Smiths, Johnny Marr). 23 October John Bossy, 82, historian. Michel Couriard, 61, Jersey civil servant. Antony Hignell, 87, sportsman. Peter Price, 83, footballer (Ayr United, St Mirren). 24 October John Adie, 69, festival promoter, co-founder of Two Moors Festival. Sir Michael Beetham, 92, air marshal, Chief of the Air Staff (1977–1982). Kirsty Howard, 20, fundraiser. 25 October David Cesarani, 58, Jewish historian. Ken Graveney, 90, cricketer (Gloucestershire). Lisa Jardine, 70, early modern historian. Matt Watson, 79, footballer (Kilmarnock). 26 October S. Barry Cooper, 72, mathematician, computational theorist, author and activist. Penelope Houston, 88, film critic, editor of Sight & Sound (1956–1990). Sam Sarpong, 40, model and actor (Love Don't Cost a Thing, Farm House, Anchor Baby) 27 October Philip French, 82, journalist and film critic (The Observer) and BBC radio producer. Gulam Noon, Baron Noon, 79, food production businessman and chancellor of University of East London. 28 October Diane Charlemagne, 51, singer (Urban Cookie Collective). Lillian Ladele, 54, Christian rights activist, plaintiff in Ladele v London Borough of Islington case. Nadia Menaz, 24, model. Sir Gerry Neale, 74, politician, MP for North Cornwall (1979–1992). 29 October Tony Van Frater, 51, musician (Red Alert). Kenneth Gilbert, 84, actor (Doctor Who, House of Cards). November thumb|180px|right|Tom Graveney (1927–2015) in 1954 thumb|180px|right|Phil Taylor (1954–2015) (right), performing with his band Motörhead in 1981, painted by Matthias Laurenz Gräff thumb|180px|right|Warren Mitchell (1926–2015) in 1978 1 November Bill Ballantine, 78, marine biologist. Chris Leatherbarrow, 26, rugby league referee. Stephen Hancock, 89, actor (Coronation Street). 2 November Frank Budgen, 61, commercial director (Tag, Mountain). Mike Davies, 79, tennis player. Roy Dommett, 82, engineer and rocket scientist. Peter Donaldson, 70, newsreader and radio broadcaster (BBC Radio 4). Christopher Duggan, 57, historian. Brian Lomax, football executive (Northampton Town) and founder of the Supporters Direct movement. Rory MacDonald, 66, horse racing executive, MD of The British Racing School (1992–2014). Arthur Shaw, 91, footballer (Arsenal). Colin Welland, 81, actor (Kes, Straw Dogs) and screenwriter (Chariots of Fire). 3 November Peter Bayley, 94, academic. Tom Graveney, 88, cricketer (Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, England). Paul Rose, 79, Labour politician and MP for Manchester Blackley (1964–1979). 4 November Ian Greer, 82, political lobbyist (Cash-for-questions affair). Leon Sinden, 88, actor (Taggart, Dr. Finlay's Casebook, The Avengers). 5 November – Brown McMaster, 66, football executive (Partick Thistle, Stenhousemuir). 6 November Bobby Campbell, 78, footballer and football manager. Jonray Sánchez-Iglesias, 32, chef. 7 November Richard Green, 74, photographer. David Shawcross, 74, footballer (Manchester City, Stockport, Halifax). (death announced on this date) 8 November Harry Clarke, 94, footballer and cricketer (Darlington). Rod Davies, 85, astronomer. Angad Paul, 45, manufacturing executive and film producer (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, The Tournament). 9 November Brian Keighley, 67, physician and medical unionist (BMA). Yolanda Sonnabend, 80, theatrical designer. Andy White, 85, drummer (The Beatles). 10 November John Carlill, 90, admiral, President of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich (1980–1982). Klaus Roth, 90, mathematician, recipient of the Fields Medal (1958). 11 November – Phil Taylor, 61, drummer (Motörhead). 12 November Graham Atkinson, 77, cricketer (Lancashire and Somerset). Jihadi John, 26, Islamic State propagandist. 14 November Alan Davison, 79, inorganic chemist. Warren Mitchell, 89, actor (Till Death Us Do Part, Death of a Salesman). 15 November Saeed Jaffrey, 86, actor (The Man Who Would Be King, Shatranj Ke Khilari, My Beautiful Laundrette). Jackie McGugan, 76, footballer (St Mirren, Leeds United). Cynthia Payne, 82, brothel keeper. 16 November Mel Ryan, 82, cricketer (Yorkshire). David Steen, 59, newspaper and magazine photographer. 17 November Guy Buckingham, 94, engineer and automobile designer (Nota). Sir John Leahy, 87, diplomat, High Commissioner to Australia (1984–1988). Terence Robbins, 81, rugby union and rugby league footballer. 18 November Redvers Kyle, 86, television continuity announcer, voice-over artist and actor. Jim Slater, 86, financier. 19 November – Sir Naim Dangoor, 101, businessman and philanthropist. 20 November Ronald Frankenberg, 86, British anthropologist. Nancy Sandars, 101, archaeologist. 21 November Peter Dimmock, 94, broadcaster (Sportsview). Anthony Read, 80, screenwriter (Doctor Who). 22 November Hazel Adair, 95, television writer (Crossroads, Compact, Emergency – Ward 10). Robin Stewart, 69, actor (Bless This House, Cromwell, The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires). 23 November – Hazel Holt, 87, novelist. 24 November Sir Robert Ford, 91, Army general, Adjutant-General to the Forces (1978–1981). John Forrester, 66, historian and philosopher of science. Aubrey Sheiham, 79, dental epidemiologist. 25 November Sir Jeremy Black, 83, Royal Navy admiral. Chris Martin, 42, civil servant, Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister (2012–2015). Beth Rogan, 84, actress (Mysterious Island). 27 November – Ian Dargie, 84, footballer (Brentford). 28 November – Gerry Byrne, 77, footballer (Liverpool, England). 29 November Wayne Bickerton, 74, songwriter ("Nothing but a Heartache", "Sugar Baby Love"), record producer, and music executive. Jonathan Janson, 85, Olympic sailor. Christopher Middleton, 89, poet and translator. 30 November Alex Kersey-Brown, 73, rugby player. Nigel Buxton, 91, travel writer. Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye, 87, writer. Leslie Waddington, 81, art dealer. December thumb|180px|right|William McIlvanney (1936–2015) in 2013 thumb|180px|right|Peter Westbury (1938–2015) in 1970 thumb|180px|right|Jimmy Hill (1928–2015) (right) with Maurice Cook thumb|180px|right|Lemmy (1945–2015) in 2005 2 December Bryony Brind, 55, ballerina. Sir John Osborn, 92, politician, MP for Sheffield Hallam (1959–1987). Anthony Valentine, 76, actor (Colditz, Coronation Street, Escape to Athena). 4 December Norman Engleback, 88, architect. Henry Hall, 87, physicist. Rodney Milnes, 79, opera critic. 5 December Willie Coburn, 74, footballer (St Johnstone). Peter Cochrane, 96, WWII army officer. William McIlvanney, 79, writer and poet. 6 December Ian Burns, 76, footballer (Aberdeen). Mick McLaughlin, 72, footballer (Hereford United, Newport County) Nicholas Smith, 81, actor (Are You Being Served?, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Doctor Who). 7 December Kenneth Partridge, 89, interior decorator. Shirley Stelfox, 74, actress (Emmerdale, Keeping Up Appearances, Coronation Street). Peter Westbury, 77, racing driver. 8 December Alan Hodgkinson, 79, footballer (Sheffield United). Derek Hyatt, 84, landscape painter. Johnny More, 81, impressionist (The Comedians). Elsie Tu, 102, social activist, member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong (1988–1995). 9 December John Cockerton, 88, Anglican priest and academic. Jenny Wormald, 73, historian. 10 December Ian Bell, 59, journalist. Walter Fawcett, 86, cricketer. 12 December Jon Gadsby, 62, actor and comedian. Sir Peter Gregson, 79, civil servant. I. Howard Marshall, 81, theologian. Ken Johnson, 87, Olympic athlete (1952). John Scott-Scott, 81, aerospace engineer. 13 December – Don Leaver, 86, television producer (The Avengers, Prime Suspect). 15 December Tom Arden, 54, author. Joe Lancaster, 89, footballer and trainer. Kathy Secker, 70, television presenter. Harry Zvi Tabor, 98, physicist. 16 December Patricia Brooker, 80, reality television personality (The Only Way is Essex). Peter Dickinson, 88, author. Brian Keeble, 77, footballer (Grimsby Town, Darlington). Harry Scott, 78, boxer. 17 December – Gareth Mortimer, 66, musician (Racing Cars). 18 December Rene Chapman, 109, centenarian and Scotland's oldest person. Joe Gilmore, 93, barman. 19 December Jimmy Hill, 87, footballer (Fulham), manager (Coventry City), trade union leader (PFA) and TV presenter (Match of the Day). Harry Hyams, 87, property developer (Centre Point). Greville Janner, Baron Janner of Braunstone, 87, politician, MP for Leicester West (1970–1997). Alan Lee, 61, cricket and horse racing journalist. 22 December – Derek Ezra, Baron Ezra, 96, coal industry administrator and Chairman of the National Coal Board (1971–1982). 23 December Henry Crichton, 6th Earl Erne, 78, nobleman. Don Howe, 80, footballer (West Bromwich Albion, Arsenal, England) and coach. Sir Brian Tovey, 89, civil servant, Director of the Government Communications Headquarters (1978–1983). 24 December – Dennis Griffiths, 82, newspaper executive (Evening Standard) and press historian. 26 December Liam Clarke, journalist (Belfast Telegraph). Ogwyn Davies, 90, painter. Ed Dobson, 65, theologian. 27 December Christopher N. L. Brooke, 88, medieval historian. Andy M. Stewart, 63, folk singer (Silly Wizard). Roy Swinbourne, 86, footballer (Wolverhampton Wanderers). Stevie Wright, 68, singer (The Easybeats). 28 December Ann Arnold, 79, painter. John Bradbury, 62, drummer (The Specials). Lemmy, 70, rock musician (Motörhead, Hawkwind). 29 December – Edward Hugh, 67, economist. 31 December Geoffrey Hawthorn, 74, British sociologist. Felix Pirani, 87, theoretical physicist. See also 2015 in British music 2015 in British television 2015 in England 2015 in Northern Ireland 2015 in Scotland 2015 in Wales List of British films of 2015 References 2015 Category:Years of the 21st century in the United Kingdom United Kingdom Category:2010s in the United Kingdom United Kingdom