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1980: SAS rescue ends Iran embassy siege
The siege of the Iranian embassy in London comes to a dramatic end after a raid by SAS commandos.

1981: Bobby Sands dies in prison
Hunger striker Bobby Sands dies in the Maze prison 66 days after first refusing to eat.

1961: Shepard becomes first US astronaut
Commander Alan Shepard returns to Earth and is rescued from his Mercury 3 capsule in the Atlantic after becoming the first American in space.

2005: Blair secures historic third term
Labour under Tony Blair wins a third term but with a greatly reduced majority.

2001: Sun shines on foot-and-mouth crisis
Britain's tourist industry hopes the bank holiday weekend and good weather will attract visitors to areas previously closed due to foot-and-mouth disease.

1955: Dr Salk promotes polio vaccine in UK
World-famous American virologist Dr Jonas Salk witnesses a ceremonial polio vaccination in London.

1967: First all-British satellite 'Ariel 3' launched
The first ever all-British satellite is successfully launched into orbit from the United States.

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