1973 ..... U.K ..... the Royal Bank of Scotland was the FIRST bank to connect all its branches on-line to a central head office computer for processing accounting work

1983 ..... U.S.A ..... Sally Ride became the FIRST American woman in space. Challenger ST57 was also the FIRST satellite mission manned by 5 people. On October 5th 1984 she made a second flight. When she married her husband, Steve, himself an astronaut, it made them the FIRST astronauts to marry. She was chosen from more than 1000 women and 7000 men who had applied for the astronaut class of 1978. Only 35 slots were available. Already an accomplished jet pilot and as flight engineer she was quite capable of flying Challenger ST57 if necessary

1988 ….. U.K ..... the FIRST regatta solely for women was held at Henley when 109 entries competed in 14 events.  Although the event  failed to attract foreign rowers it drew a high quality of competitors including the women's national squad and the best club and university crews

2000 ….. U.K ..... Jamie Andrew, aged 30 years, became the FIRST quadruple amputee to scale Ben Nevis when he reached the snow-covered peak after a climb of 6½ hours.  He had lost his hands and feet after being stranded in the Alps in a fierce blizzard in 1999. He suffered severe frostbite and his climbing companion died

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