1997 in Scotland

none October 2020 January 2016 1997 Events from the year 1997 in Scotland. Incumbents Politics of Scotland Order of precedence in Scotland Secretary of State for Scotland and Keeper of the Great Seal – Michael Forsyth until 2 May; then Donald Dewar Law officers Lord Advocate – Lord Mackay of Drumadoon; then Lord Hardie Solicitor General for Scotland – Paul Cullen; then Colin Boyd Judiciary Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General – Lord Rodger of Earlsferry Lord Justice Clerk – Lord Ross, then Lord Cullen Chairman of the Scottish Land Court – Lord McGhie Events 22 February – Scientists at the Roslin Institute announce the birth of a cloned sheep named Dolly seven months afterwards.http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/22/newsid_4245000/4245877.stm Dolly the sheep is cloned 10 February 2008 22 February 1997 BBC News 31 March – Rail operator ScotRail (operated by National Express) begins operation of its passenger service franchise in Scotland as part of the privatisation of British Rail, the last company to be sold. April–October – In the Outer Hebrides, the Northern Lighthouse Board constructs a new light on Haskeir with minor lights on Gasker and on Shillay, Monach Islands.Monach https://www.nlb.org.uk/LighthouseLibrary/Lighthouse/Monach/ Lighthouse Library Northern Lighthouse Board Edinburgh 2009 2016-03-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20160305011630/http://www.nlb.org.uk/LighthouseLibrary/Lighthouse/Monach/ 5 March 2016 dead 1 May – The 1997 UK general glection results in all Conservative MPs in Scotland losing their seats, and Labour returning to government after eighteen years in opposition.1997: Labour routs Tories in historic election http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/2/newsid_2480000/2480505.stm BBC News BBC 17 May 2013 43-year-old, Edinburgh-born Tony Blair (Labour) becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Mohammad Sarwar, elected for Labour in Glasgow Govan, becomes the UK's first ever Muslim MP. 12 June – Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust acquires the island. 5 August – James Reid is jailed for life for the murder of four-year-old James Ward, whose skull was struck by so many blows with a slater's hammer that it was smashed into fragments, like a jigsaw.http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/cheers-as-murderer-gets-life-for-hammer-attack-which-left-boy-s-skull-in-fragments-mystery-of-child-killer-s-motive-1.386053 Cheers as murderer gets life for hammer attack which left boy's skull in fragments 21 October 2011 6 August 1997 HeraldScotland 7 September – Clyde Auditorium opened in Glasgow. 8 September – The football clubs in the Premier Division decide to split from the Scottish Football League and form the Scottish Premier League from next season. 11 September – referendum in Scotland on the creation of a Parliament with devolved powers takes place. Voters back the plans for a Scottish Executive with limited tax-raising powers.http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/12/newsid_2515000/2515695.stm Scots say 'Yes' to home rule 10 February 2008 12 September 1997 BBC News October – The Grand Theft Auto video game, developed by DMA Design in Dundee, is launched. 6 November – Labour holds the Paisley South by-election despite a swing of 11.3% to the Scottish National Party.https://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-information-office/M16.pdf Factsheet M16: By-election results, 1997–2001 House of Commons Information Office September 2003 10 January 2020 18 December – The bill to establish the Scottish Parliament unveiled by Secretary of State for Scotland Donald Dewar, who would become the inaugural First Minister of Scotland in 1999.http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/18/newsid_2538000/2538553.stm Dawn of Scottish parliament 10 February 2008 18 December 1997 BBC News December – Valhalla Brewery, the most northerly in Britain, opened on Unst. The Island of Stroma is completely devoid of permanent residents when its lighthouse is automated and its keepers and their families depart. Equality Network established to campaign for LGBT rights in Scotland. Births 17 January – Charithra Chandran, actresshttps://theface.com/culture/charithra-chandran-bridgerton-netflix-interview Charithra Chandran on entering the world of Bridgerton The Face Jade Wickes 4 January 2022 7 January 2022 29 March 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220329024317/https://theface.com/culture/charithra-chandran-bridgerton-netflix-interview dead 6 May – Duncan Scott, swimmerDuncan Scott https://www.britishswimming.org/athlete-swimming-profiles/british-swimming-profiles/duncan-scott/ British Swimming 9 September 2022 12 July – Fergus McCreadie, jazz pianist and composerFergus McCreadie All About Jazz https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/fergus-mccreadie October 15, 2022 11 August – Sarah Clelland, footballerSarah Clelland - Player Profile - Football https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/sarah-clelland_prs435888/person.shtml Eurosport UK 28 April 2020 3 October – Kathleen Dawson, swimmerKathleen Dawson https://www.britishswimming.org/athlete-swimming-profiles/british-swimming-profiles/kathleen-dawson/ British Swimming 24 November 2023 August 2026 InternetArchiveBot 8 October – Josh Kerr, middle-distance runnerJosh KERR https://worldathletics.org/athletes/great-britain-ni/josh-kerr-14533464 2026-08-02 World Athletics 2022-01-30 https://web.archive.org/web/20220130010411/https://worldathletics.org/athletes/great-britain-ni/josh-kerr-14533464 live Deaths 22 January – Billy Mackenzie, singer, by suicide (born 1957) 29 June – Marjorie Linklater, campaigner for the arts and environment of Orkney (born 1909)Marjorie Linklater https://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/marjorie-linklater-5560252.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/marjorie-linklater-5560252.html 1 May 2022 subscription live The Independent 2 September 2020 en 4 July 1997 4 September – Belle Stewart, traditional singer (born 1906) Angus McPhee, outsider artist (born 1916) The arts Wigtown and Dalmellington become book towns. Anne MacLeod publishes her first poetry collection, Standing by Thistles. See also 1997 in Northern Ireland References collapsed Scotland Category:Years of the 20th century in Scotland Category:1990s in Scotland Scotland