Famous for the tragedy that was the Dunblane Massacre and the dramatic divorces of the Duke and Duchess of York (Andrew and Sarah) and of the Prince and Princess of Wales (Charles and Diana), 1996 was also a time of advancement in the shape of the birth of Dolly the sheep and of (albeit brief) joy surrounding the England national football team, who made it to the semi-finals of that year’s Euros.
Here are some of our best archive pictures from that heady era...
41. Preston in 1996
Children from the Preston area were given the chance to take part in a stage production of 101 Dalmations at the Charter Theatre in Preston. The puppies were played on a rota basis by Nick Gittins, Lynsey Threlfall, Lucinda Hogarth, Chris Rawkins, Antonia Ascroft, Miles Galaska, Lucy Wilkinson, Jenny Morgan, Kim Hampson, Charlotte Kenny, Jennifer Campbell, Lisa Baird, Kim Shirley, Jonathan Sharples and Natalie Gundry Photo: RETRO