Events from the year 1966 in the United Kingdom. Incumbents Monarch – Elizabeth II Prime Minister – Harold Wilson (Labour) Parliament 43rd (until 10 March) 44th (starting 18 April) Events January–March 3 January British Rail begins full electric passenger train services over the West Coast Main Line from Euston to Manchester and Liverpool with operation from London to Rugby. Services officially inaugurated 18 April. Stop-motion children's television series Camberwick Green first shown on BBC One as part of Watch with Mother. 4 January – More than 4,000 people attend a memorial service at Westminster Abbey for the broadcaster Richard Dimbleby, who died last month aged 52. 12 January – Three British MPs visiting Rhodesia (Christopher Rowland, Jeremy Bray and David Ennals) are assaulted by supporters of Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith. 20 January The Queen commutes the death sentence on a Black prisoner in Rhodesia, two months after its abolition in the UK. Radio Caroline South pirate radio ship runs aground on the beach at Frinton. 21 January – The White minority-ruled regime in Rhodesia rejects the royal prerogative commuting death sentences on two Africans. 27 January – The Labour Party unexpectedly retains the parliamentary seat of Hull North in a by-election, with a swing of 4.5% to their candidate from the opposition Conservatives, and a majority up from 1,181 at the 1964 General Election to 5,351. 30 January – Action Man toy action figure launched in the UK. 31 January – The United Kingdom ceases all trade with Rhodesia. 9 February – A prototype Fast Reactor nuclear reactor opens at Dounreay on the north coast of Scotland. 17 February – The UK protests to South Africa over its supplying of petrol to Rhodesia. 19 February – Naval minister Christopher Mayhew resigns. 28 February – Harold Wilson calls a snap general election for 31 March, in hope of increasing his vulnerable single-seat majority in Parliament. 1 March – Chancellor of the Exchequer James Callaghan announces the decision to embrace decimalisation of the pound (which will be effected on 15 February 1971). 4 March In an interview published in the Evening Standard, John Lennon of The Beatles comments, "We're more popular than Jesus now". The UK gives recognition to the new regime in Ghana. 5 March – BOAC Flight 911 crashes in severe clear-air turbulence over Mount Fuji soon after taking off from Tokyo International Airport in Japan, killing all 124