and this was also the year that iconic blockbuster films including E.T and Blade Runner were dominating the silver screen, Prince William was born into the royal family as second in line for the succession to the British throne, and Dexy’s Midnight runners topped the charts with Come on Eileen.

and this was also the year that Golden Eye released in UK cinemas, and the first ever full-length animated film Toy Story premiered in New York USA. President Clinton lifted the 23-year ban on Alaskan oil exports. Starbucks introduced the Frappuccino, and the Java computer language was invented.

and this was also the year that the euro became the official currency for 12 European nations, Queen Elizabeth II opened the Scottish Parliament, oil & gas production from the UK sector of the North Sea peaked, and a minimum wage is introduced throughout the UK – set at £3.60 an hour for workers over 21, and £3 for workers under 21.

and this was also the year George W. Bush succeeded Bill Clinton, becoming the 43^rd President of the United States and Beijing won the bid to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. The first of the Harry Potter movies took to our screens, along with the first iPod being introduced by Apple.

and this was also the year The Queen christened the RMS Queen Mary 2 cruise liner - the largest passenger ship at the time, Arsenal finished the English Premiership season unbeaten, the Summer Olympics were held in Athens, Greece and McFly were the most successful British pop acts of 2004 whose first two debut singles entered the charts at number one.

and this was also the year Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44^th President of the United States of America becoming the first African American president, James Cameron’s long anticipated movie Avatar graced our screens, David Attenborough along with the Duke of Cambridge officially opened the Darwin Centre at the National History Museum in London, and the Space Shuttle Atlantis was launched to refurbish the Hubble Space Telescope.