What was the first major news story you remember as a kid?

[igotbills]

Mine was the disappearance of Madeline Mccann in 2007 - I was 10

Actually, I can just about remember Chernobyl but not the disaster itself just vague recollections of potentially radioactive sheep? Not sure if that was real or something I heard my dad say, I was only 3 and a half.

Diana. I was 6, but didn’t really understand it. Next one I fully remember is 9/11.

Surprised so few/no one saying Chernobyl or Challenger.

James bulger I think

When I was a newly trained copper in 1989, we were shown training videos of the aftermeath and clear up operations of these tragic disasters. It was an ongoing regime of 'exposure to awful things' so that we would cope better if we found ourselves dealing with large scale incidents.

Hearing Elvis was dead I was about 7.

I remember Piper Alpha and Lockerbie and feeling like there was another horrible thing still to come.

The first big news story that I felt connection to was the Poll Tax - my parents refused to pay and I was convinced rhe police were going to turn up and arrest them. The police did turn up on day, I wouldn't open the door. They were only asking neighbours if they had heard anything about a burglary in the area. I was about 10 and genuinely thought they were taking my parents away!

Freddie Mercury dying.

Ok, this isn't a particular story but a person- Barbara Bush. I named my space hopper after her 🤣 in my family they are still known as a "Barbara Bush". I'm thinking I must have heard her name on the news around the time of the US election in 1992. I was 3. The first story I can remember really clearly was, sadly, Dunblane.

I was born that year ☺️

war & 'the troubles'

I was probably about 4/5

Berlin Wall and the toppling thereof.

Lesley Whittle 1975
Genette Tate 1978

Both terrified me - I was 10 and 13 respectively 😢

9/11, in 2001. I was 5.

James Bulger

The Yorkshire Ripper. All women and girls in my area lived in fear of him and the relief when he was finally caught was immense.

War in Beirut, I loved in the middle east. I was about 4/5

Lived in the middle east

I hadn't been born yet.(Just) I love you because every other poster has made me feel old 🤣

Chernobyl

I don't remember the James Bulger story in itself but I remember the older kids I hung around with talking about it. The first major things for me were two things. The death of Princess Diana and the Michael Jackson accusations. I was gutted at both.

The death of John Lennon. Listening to the radio in the kitchen before school as Dad polished our shoes. Was about 7/8.

Jamie Bulger here too. I was about 12 and recall it was horrifying.

Watching Christa McAuliffe and her colleagues die on live tv when the Challenger blew up.

I don’t show live space launches to my children for this reason.

The first newspaper front page I can remember is one announcing the death of Richard Beckinsale. Even though I was far too young to be watching it, I used to love Rising Damp and had a bit of a proto-crush on him. All my family seemed so genuinely sad at the news.

The first television news report I can really remember is when my mum seemed glued to a story where a large angry crowd were surrounding a police van which contained someone who has done something very bad. It was only years later that I realised this was the arrest of Peter Sutcliffe. That story had such a profound impact on women, even if they lived nowhere near the area where he was committing his murders.

Mine was the hint for the black panther robber/murderer. I was between 5 and 8 (as that is when he was in the news and "at large") but I was terrified he was going to break into my house. I lived nowhere near where his crimes were.