66 reasons why 1966 was a great year for Britain

48. ...He also regenerated for the first time, William Hartnell turning into Patrick Troughton.

49. Glasgow airport was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II.

50. Englishman Michael Atiyah won the Fields Medal for outstanding contribution to mathematics.

He proved jointly the index theorem of elliptic operators on complex manifolds, in case you were wondering.

51. Terry Wogan made his debut on the BBC's Light Programme (soon to be renamed Radio 2).

52. The M32 motorway opened, linking Bristol to the M4.

53.

Eric Clapton (of the Yardbirds), Ginger Baker (of The Graham Bond Organisation) and Jack Bruce (briefly of the Bluesbreakers) came together to form Cream[1], releasing their debut album Fresh Cream.

54. The Ulster Orchestra, Northern Ireland's only professional symphony orchestra, was founded.

55. David Hockney completed several of his famous swimming pool paintings, including The Splash and Peter Getting Out of Nick's Pool.

56.

Jimi Hendrix arrived in London and put together The Jimi Hendrix Experience[2].

57. Tartan-clad 70s boyband The Bay City Rollers[3] were formed in Edinburgh.

58. The BBC announced its plans to begin broadcasting in colour.

The transition was overseen by Sir David Attenborough, then controller of BBC Two.

References

1. ^ BBC Music - Cream (www.bbc.co.uk)
2. ^ BBC Music - The Jimi Hendrix Experience (www.bbc.co.uk)
3. ^ BBC Music - The Bay City Rollers (www.bbc.co.uk)