Events from 1998 in England Incumbent Monarch – Elizabeth II Events 16 January – Two 10-year-olds go on trial, the youngest ever to be accused of rape. 19 February – Anthony Gormley's landmark sculpture, the Angel of the North, is erected at Gateshead. 3 March – Millennium Dome construction begins. 6 March – Closure of South Crofty, the last tin mine in Cornwall. 2 April – Miles Evans, a 24-year-old former soldier, is sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his nine-year-old stepdaughter Zoe in Warminster last year. Shortly after her disappearance, he had appeared on television making an appeal for her safe return. 27 April – Kevin Lloyd, who has played Alfred "Tosh" Lines in The Bill since 1988, is dismissed from the role by ITV due to his alcoholism. 3 May – Arsenal secure the Premier League title with a 4–0 win over Everton. 9 May – Eurovision Song Contest held in Birmingham at the National Indoor Arena. 15 May – 24th G8 summit held in Birmingham. 16 May – Arsenal beat Newcastle United 2-0 in the FA Cup final to complete The double. June – Building work begins on Cambourne, a new village nine miles west of Cambridge. The first residents are expected to move into their homes next year. 15 June – The England national football team begin their World Cup campaign in France with a 2–0 win over Tunisia in Marseille, with goals coming from Alan Shearer and Paul Scholes. 22 June – England lose 2–1 to Romania in their second group game in Toulouse. Their consolation goal came from eighteen-year-old Michael Owen – who earlier this year became the youngest full England international of the 20th century. 23 June – The Heathrow Express begins operation. 26 June – England qualify for the next stage of the World Cup by beating Colombia 2-0 in Lens, with David Beckham scoring the first with a trademark 30 yard free kick, with Darren Anderton the 2nd. 30 June – England are out of the World Cup in the second round after losing on penalties to Argentina after a 2–2 draw in open play in Saint-Étienne. They were 2–1 up after 16 minutes thanks to goals from Alan Shearer and Michael Owen, but the Argentines later equalised and David Beckham was sent off in the second half for kicking the opponent who had fouled him. 2 July –