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1961 in Scotland
Reference material by Wikipedia contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
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January 2015
July 2026
1961
Events from the year 1961 in Scotland.
Incumbents
Politics of Scotland Order of precedence in Scotland
Secretary of State for Scotland and Keeper of the Great Seal – John Maclay
Law officers
Lord Advocate – William Grant
Solicitor General for Scotland – David Colville Anderson
Judiciary
Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General – Lord Clyde
Lord Justice Clerk – Lord Thomson
Chairman of the Scottish Land Court – Lord Gibson
Events
3 March – Holy Loch becomes the United States Navy's FBM Refit Site One and home base to its Submarine Squadron 14 (equipped with Polaris nuclear missiles) with the arrival of tender USS Proteus.http://www.jmr.nmm.ac.uk/server/show/ConJmrArticle.2/setPaginate/No Lavery Brian Brian Lavery The British government and the American Polaris base in the Clyde Journal for Maritime Research September 2001 https://web.archive.org/web/20050503205041/http://www.jmr.nmm.ac.uk/server/show/conJmrArticle.2/setPaginate/No 2005-05-03
10 May – St. Andrew's Catholic Cathedral in Dumfries is destroyed by fire.October 2021 dead link
17 May – Rangers F.C. become the first British team to reach a European final but lose the first leg of the Final of the 1960–61 European Cup Winners' Cup at Ibrox, 2–0.
27 May – Rangers lose the second leg of the Final of the 1960–61 European Cup Winners' Cup, 2-1, to lose over the two legs by 4–1.
1 September – Border Television goes on air.
16 September – Three people die and 35 are injured when a stand collapses during a Rangers F.C. football match at Ibrox Park.http://www.contrast.org/hillsborough/history/worldwide.shtm Worldwide Disasters Hillsborough Football Disaster 5 April 2013
16–17 September – remnants of Atlantic Hurricane Debbie track across Scotland.
30 September – Grampian Television goes on air.
13 October – The British Motor Corporation's Bathgate Lorry Plant begins production.
16 November – Glasgow Bridgeton by-election: Labour retains the seat although the Scottish National Party achieves an 18% share of the vote, only narrowly failing to take second place.
Completion of Howford Bridge carrying the A76 road over River Ayr near Catrine (the longest reinforced concrete arch span in Scotland at this date); and new Ness Bridge in Inverness.
Remains of Rosneath House blown up.
Release of short documentary film Seawards the Great Ships, which will be the first Scottish film to win an Academy Award.
Caithness Glass established in Wick, Caithness, by Robin Sinclair, 2nd Viscount Thurso.
Births
4 January – Graham McTavish, actor
20 January – Janey Godley, comedian and writer (died 2024)
14 February – Alison Saunders, Director of Public Prosecutions (England and Wales)
1 April – Susan Boyle, singer
6 April – Rory Bremner, impressionist, playwright and comedian
10 April – Nicky Campbell, broadcast presenterNicky Campbell https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba83f2522 https://web.archive.org/web/20180319125542/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba83f2522 dead 19 March 2018 BFI 11 August 2022 en
14 April – Robert Carlyle, actor
22 April – Ann McKechin, Labour MP from 2001
6 May – Tom Hunter, entrepreneur and philanthropist
7 May – Sue Black, forensic anthropologist
13 May – Ralph Milne, footballer (died 2015)
16 May – Sarah Boyack, Labour MSP from 1999
5 June – Rosie Kane, born Rosemary McGarvey, Socialist MSP from 2003 to 2007
22 June – Jimmy Somerville, pop singer
24 June – Iain Glen, actor
10 July – Carol Anne Davis, crime writer
18 September – Michael McMahon, Labour MSP from 2011
22 September – Liam Fox, Conservative MP from 1992
9 November – Jackie Kay, poet and novelist
18 November – Steven Moffat, television writer
23 December – Carol Smillie, television presenter
29 December – Jim Reid, alternative rock singer-songwriter
2 December – Richard Quinn, jockey
30 December – Charlie Nicholas, international footballer
W. N. Herbert, poet
Kevin Williamson, political activist
Deaths
30 January – John Duncan Fergusson, Scottish Colourist painter (born 1874)
1 October – Sir William Reid Dick, sculptor (born 1879)
13 October – John MacCormick, lawyer and advocate of Home Rule (born 1904)
The arts
Muriel Spark's novel The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is published.
Marmalade formed as The Gaylords in Baillieston.
See also
1961 in Northern Ireland
References
Scotland
Category:Years of the 20th century in Scotland
Category:1960s in Scotland
Scotland