Significant milestones in history that must never be forgotten

2018 will be a year to remember those who inspired, sacrificed and drove changes in Scottish life, writes James Delaney

From the foundation of groundbreaking institutions and revolutionary political changes to global conflicts and domestic tragedies, 2018 will be a year to remember those who inspired, sacrificed and drove changes in Scottish life that are still felt to this day.

The year will mark two significant milestones in the extension of British democracy, charting a century of the first instance of women being enfranchised in the UK and 90 years since the vote was equally granted for men and women across the country.

On 6 February, 1918, the Representation of the People Act was signed into law, handing all men over the age of 21 the right to go to the polls.

More significantly, landowning women over the age of 30 were enfranchised in the UK for the first time.

Ten years later, on 2 July, 1928, the Equal Franchise Act levelled the playing field by giving all women – regardless of property ownership – the same voting rights as men in one of the biggestever victories for the suffrage movement.

A host of events to mark both occasions are to be held around the country, culthe minating in Vote100 exhibition at Westminster, scheduled to run between July and September. Initially formed on 1 April, 1918, the Royal Air Force will mark 100 years of patrolling the nation’s skies in a year-long celebration.

At the time of its formation, it was the first and only air force to be totally independent of military or navy control and has been a backbone of Britain’s military history throughout conflicts in the 20th century.

The force is promoting its centenary programme under the RAF 100 banner and is due to spend up to £8 million on celebrations during the course of the year.

Also on 1 April, BBC Reporting Scotland will celebrate 50 years of delivering nightly news bulletins to televisions in homes around the country. The anniversary comes as the corporation is set to expand its news offering, with the launch of a new Scottish-only television channel later in

the year. The channel will come complete with an exclusive hourlong news proramme g every night. The world of motor racing will come together on 7A pril to pay tribto ute one of the greatest ever to grace the track on the 50th anniversary of his tragic passing.

Jim Clark was killed at the Hockenheimring track in Germany as he raced in a Formula Two event in 1968.

Family members are hopeful they can mark the anniversary of his death with the creation of a museum dedicated to the two-time Formula One champion.

Thousands of visitors, including racing greats such as the late Ayrton Senna, have passedthroughasmallmemorial room to Clark in the Borders town of Duns, but plans for an updated memorial are being proposed for consideration this year.

On 5 July, Scotland will pay tribute to the thousands of doctors, nurses and staff of the country’s hospitals as the NHS celebrates 70 years of keeping the nation healthy.

First established in 1948 as the world’s fully comprehensive state health care provider, the service is set to honour those who have continued to make a difference to the lives of people in Scotland.

At a time where the service is facing greater challenges and staffing shortages than ever before, events in different areas will vary by health board.

However, a statement on the NHS website reads the commemorations will “allow us to thank staff across NHS Scotland and its partners for their hard work and commitment, and to demonstrate their achievement and successes, whilst acknowledging the challenges they face”.

The post-second World War era led to a number of new towns springing up across Scotland as part of plans to deal with a population boom in the country following the conflict.

While the likes of Cumbernauld and East Kilbride were designated as overspill towns for nearby Glasgow, Glenrothes in Fife became one of the most densely populated areas of the region.

The town – birthplace of actor Dougray Scott – celebrates its 70th birthday in the summer and plans to create a digital photo archive charting its history, inviting contributions from existing and former residents.

A century ago, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the guns fell silent across Europe as an armistice was declared to bring an end to the hostilities of the First World War. The conflict claimed the lives of more than 16 million people globally, including an estimated 100,000 Scots and still ranks as one of the bloodiest on record.

Among the milestones reached during the year will be the commemoration of the second battle of the Somme, taking place in the latter part of the war between August and September 1918.

While not as well known as the infamous conflict of a year earlier, the battle marked a major victory for the Allied forces ahead of the armistice declared between both sides two months later. More than 30,000 people lost their lives in the battle.

The armistice, signed in the back of a railroad car in Paris, marked a victory for the Allies and a defeat for the German forces led by Kaiser Wilhelm II.

The deal brought an end to four years of fighting after similar agreements had been signed with the Austro-hungarian and Ottoman Empires. To this day, the date stands as the day of remembrance for