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It’s a year that’s marked by one event that will never be forgotten, the murder of 16 children and a teacher at Dunblane Primary School near Stirling. There is widespread shock, anger and disbelief, later in the year and after much campaigning, legislation is announced that will tighten the country’s gun ownership laws.

1996 is also the year that the Prime Minister John Major announces that the Stone of Destiny, upon which Scotland’s monarchs were historically crowned, and was captured by Edward I in 1296, is to be returned to Scotland. It is taken to the Crown Room in Edinburgh Castle.

After its closure in 1992, the iconic Ravenscraig Steel Works are demolished this year. It is also the year 31 passengers are trapped when a fire breaks out in the Channel Tunnel.

At the movies, Trainspotting, based on the novel by Irvine Welsh and directed by Danny Boyle, opens in UK cinemas to critical acclaim and commercial success.

Scottish football fans travel to London to support the national team’s campaign in the European Championships, but the Tartan Army’s cheers are silenced as Scotland’s plans unravel.

In music we encounter Girl Power, courtesy of the Spice Girls, for the first time, and there’s devastating news for boy band fans…Take That announce they are to split after three years and a string of number one hits.