Events making the headlines in 1988 included the the merger of the SDP and the Liberals to form the Liberal Democrats, Margaret Thatcher becoming the longest-serving Prime Minister of the 20th century, the Piper Alpha oil rig explosion and the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.
On television viewers were tuning into the first episodes of ‘You Rang, M'Lord?’, ‘Red Dwarf’ and ‘London's Burning’, while at the cinema ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’, ‘A Fish Called Wanda’, ‘Crocodile Dundee II’ and ‘Three Men and a Baby’ saw film fans queue around the block.
In the music charts Cliff Richard had the best-selling single of the year with ‘Mistletoe and Wine’, followed by ‘The Only Way Is Up’ by Yazz and the Plastic Population, Kylie Minogue’s ‘I Should Be So Lucky’, ‘Especially for You’ by Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan, and Tiffany’s ‘I Think We're Alone Now’.
Celebrities born in 1988 include singers Rihanna and Adele, and actress Emma Stone.
And there was plenty going on in Edinburgh, including a fair number of famous faces and the 150th anniversary of Jenners
Here are 26 pictures to take you back to Scotland’s Capital in 1988.
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In the music charts Cliff Richard had the best-selling single of the year with ‘Mistletoe and Wine’, followed by ‘The Only Way Is Up’ by Yazz and the Plastic Population, Kylie Minogue’s ‘I Should Be So Lucky’, ‘Especially for You’ by Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan, and Tiffany’s ‘I Think We're Alone Now’.
![Dancer Wayne Sleep adds another brick to the Edinburgh and Leith Old People's Welfare Council totaliser in September 1988. Funds were being raised to build Stockbridge House.](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjNjMWUyZTk3LWFlNTUtNDU0NC04MmI0LTk4MjllMjlhNGZkMzpmYTg2MTMyNi04YzA3LTQyY2QtYWI4Ni1lNjg2NjNmNzlkOTU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
17. Another brick in the wall
Dancer Wayne Sleep adds another brick to the Edinburgh and Leith Old People's Welfare Council totaliser in September 1988. Funds were being raised to build Stockbridge House. Photo: Crauford Tait
![John Cleese, writer, actor and former member of the Monty Python comedy team, at the Sheraton Hotel in August 1988.](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjJiY2QzMGM1LTRjYjEtNDQxZi04OWZlLWM0ZTZlMTY1MTEyYTo2Y2MxYjRkMy1hYTY4LTQyZDQtOGNmZC05OTQ5ZTA0NzJkNWY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
18. Python
John Cleese, writer, actor and former member of the Monty Python comedy team, at the Sheraton Hotel in August 1988. Photo: Crauford Tait
![Lord Provost Eleanor McLaughlin and a Graysmill primary school pupil switch on the Christmas tree lights at The Mound in 1988.](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmQxNDgyNjM3LWM3MmUtNGZmOS05NDBkLWM0OTEzODhkMWNkMzo2ZTBiYTJjYy1lZjMwLTQ4MjEtYjIwNy05NzJmMTA5ZDc4MGM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
19. Christmas cheer
Lord Provost Eleanor McLaughlin and a Graysmill primary school pupil switch on the Christmas tree lights at The Mound in 1988. Photo: Jack Crombie
![Customers looking at musical instrument tuition books in Rae MacIntosh (Music)'s newly-refurbished shop in Queensferry Street in 1988.](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjNlMTQwZTA1LThmMDQtNGRiNi1hMzZkLWFkZGFkZTUxZjVkZjo0MTAyNjJlZC05NWE2LTQzNWEtYmFkNC1iYjAwOGRlZDFhMDI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
20. Music to their ears
Customers looking at musical instrument tuition books in Rae MacIntosh (Music)'s newly-refurbished shop in Queensferry Street in 1988. Photo: Jack Crombie