Timeline of Milton Keynes

1974 -

• MKDC produced plans for £100m city centre.
• Bill Benyon held Buckingham constituency. Robert Maxwell stepped down as labour candidate.
• Queens Pool in Bletchley came down.
• 4000 workers laid off because of January's three day weeks.
• Retired railwayman Ernest Fryer became Milton Keynes first Mayor.
• Official opening of Stantonbury Theatre.

1975 -

• Dial-a-bus was launched.
• Cofferidge Close opens.
• Work had started on Fishermead housing.

1976 -

• A5D given the go ahead, but delayed start for 2 years.
• Stantonbury Leisure Centre opened.
• Lloyds Court opened.

1977 -

• Queens silver jubilee celebrated with at least 100 street parties.
• Work started on the excavation of Magiovinium.

1978 -

• The BBC brought 'It's a knockout' to the city.
• The gazette art competition found a new talent in Peter Osborne.
• VW moved into their new warehouse.
• First filling station opened.

1979 -

• The Queen opened the Council's new civic offices.
• Margaret Thatcher officially opened the shopping centre.
• The Bowl opened to the public .

1980 -

• Europe's first peace pagoda is opened at Willen .

1981 -

• The Central Library, Gallery and Home World Exhibition opened.
• Population reached 100,000.

1982 -

• Prince Charles opened MK Central Railway Station.
• The bones of a prehistoric reptile found at Caldecotte Lake.

1983 -

• CMK bus station opened.

1984 -

• Luton Town Football Club submits draft proposal to build stadium in MK Status Quo at the Bowl.
• MK General Hospital admitted its first patient.

1985 -

• PM Margaret Thatcher opened BSI HQ at Linford Wood.
• Duchess of Kent opens new police HQ.
• The Point opens.

1986 -

• Superman Christopher Reeve films in the city.

1987 -

• Boxer Barry McGuigan moves to MK.
• MK was the biggest constituency in the British mainland.

1988 -

• Plans for MK new theatre unveiled by the MKDC - will be the centrepiece of the city's new 'bright lights' area.