Year
What Was Happening ?
Timeline (1990-2009)
1990
HTTP & HTML created by Tim Berners-Lee. The World Wide Web is born.
John Major (Conservative) becomes Prime Minister
The Gulf War
John Major (Conservative) becomes Prime Minister
The Gulf War
1991
Stratford Fruit and Vegetable Market Closes
Rather than a southern approach, the government decides on an eastern route through Essex to London for new international lines - with opportunities for regeneration along the way. This is advantageous to Stratford's campaign; Newham argues the case for a station and terminus on the Rail Lands even more strongly.
Rather than a southern approach, the government decides on an eastern route through Essex to London for new international lines - with opportunities for regeneration along the way. This is advantageous to Stratford's campaign; Newham argues the case for a station and terminus on the Rail Lands even more strongly.
The Maastricht Treaty establishes the European Union
Boris Yeltsin is elected the first president of the newly independent Russia.
Boris Yeltsin is elected the first president of the newly independent Russia.
1992
Maria Holmden becomes Parish Deacon
Stratford City Challenge begins. This locally led programme brings key initial improvements to Stratford, including the Regional Station, the cinema, Stratford Circus and town centre improvements.
Two key government-funded programmes help achieve regeneration: Stratford and Temple Mills SRB (Single Regeneration Budget), and Stratford Tomorrow's City SRB. Each programme lasts seven years and is managed by a new local body, the Stratford Development Partnership.
Two key government-funded programmes help achieve regeneration: Stratford and Temple Mills SRB (Single Regeneration Budget), and Stratford Tomorrow's City SRB. Each programme lasts seven years and is managed by a new local body, the Stratford Development Partnership.
Church of England approves ordination of women to the priesthood.
William Jefferson Clinton becomes President of The United States
1993
The government launches a competition to select locations for the stations between Ashford and St Pancras - Newham is as keen as ever for Stratford to be one of them.
1994
Maria Holmden becomes Curate
London and Continental Railways (LCR) submits a competition bid that includes Stratford and a commitment to regenerate the area around a new International Station on the Rail Lands - it wins.
Newham North East by-election:
Stephen Timms, Labour, elected.
Newham North East by-election:
Stephen Timms, Labour, elected.
The Church of England ordains 32 women priests.
The Channel Tunnel officially opens.
Nelson Mandela inaugurated as president of South Africa
Nelson Mandela inaugurated as president of South Africa
1995
Windows 95 launched
DVD (Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) invented
DVD (Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) invented
1996
Maria Holmden leaves St John's for All Saints, Leyton
Modicum Okello becomes curate
Modicum Okello becomes curate
The Channel Tunnel Rail Link Act is passed by Parliament. This means that the scheme led by LCR will go ahead. An agreement with the government transfers rights to the Stratford Rail Lands to LCR.
An outbreak of 'mad cow' disease leads to a crisis in the beef industry when researchers conclude it can be transmitted to humans through eating meat.
1997
David Richards is made Vicar of St Johns
Forrest Atkins leaves St John's for a Chaplaincy in Dubai
The Archdeacon of West Ham, The Ven. Michael Fox, digs the first hole for the new church extension.
Forrest Atkins leaves St John's for a Chaplaincy in Dubai
The Archdeacon of West Ham, The Ven. Michael Fox, digs the first hole for the new church extension.
LCR runs a competition to find development partners for the regeneration of Stratford. A consortium made up of the property developers Chelsfield and Stanhope is the winner. Masterplanning architects Arup help prepare their proposal and continue to work on the scheme. An order under the Transport and Works Act secures formal government consent for the International Station.
General Election:
Stephen Timms, Labour, East Ham.
Anthony Banks, Labour, West Ham.
James Fitzpatrick, Labour, Poplar and Canning Town.
General Election:
Stephen Timms, Labour, East Ham.
Anthony Banks, Labour, West Ham.
James Fitzpatrick, Labour, Poplar and Canning Town.
Tony Blair (Labour) becomes Prime Minister
1998
Church extension opened by Rt Rev Roger Sainsbury, Bishop of Barking, and Stephen Timms MP.
1999
Modicum Okello leaves St John's for St Matthew's, West Ham (external link) & later Hall Green, Birmingham
Jubilee Line Extension to Stratford opens.
The Euro is introduced
The New Millennium is celebrated worldwide, a year early.
The New Millennium is celebrated worldwide, a year early.
2000
Local Government Act 2000 introduces the option of directly elected mayors.
George Walker Bush becomes President of The United States
George Walker Bush becomes President of The United States
2001
The Victorian Theatre Royal, Stratford East, made famous by Joan Littlewood, is reopened after a £7 million refurbishment
Work begins on Section 2 of the CTRL. Ground is broken on the Stratford Rail Lands and work begins to prepare for construction of the International Station.
The Stratford City Development Partnership, which consists of Chelsfield, Stanhope and LCR, and which has been working together on plans since 1997, is formally set up.
Work begins on Section 2 of the CTRL. Ground is broken on the Stratford Rail Lands and work begins to prepare for construction of the International Station.
The Stratford City Development Partnership, which consists of Chelsfield, Stanhope and LCR, and which has been working together on plans since 1997, is formally set up.
The largest botanical garden in the world, the Eden Project, opens in Cornwall.
Terrorists hijack commercial airplanes and fly them into the World Trade centre in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., killing some 3,000 people.
Terrorists hijack commercial airplanes and fly them into the World Trade centre in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., killing some 3,000 people.
2002
Work begins on site to excavate deep underground railway tunnels that lead from Stratford to St Pancras and from Stratford to Dagenham. The earth from the tunnels will be used to raise the land at Stratford by 6 metres.
Mount Nyiragongo erupts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, displacing an estimated 400,000 people.
The US and an international coalition of forces attack Afghanistan.
The US and an international coalition of forces attack Afghanistan.
2003
The Stratford City Development partners submit their outline planning application - a huge document that needs a van to carry it - to the London Borough of Newham, surrounding boroughs and other planning bodies. Planning Aid for London helps local people and organisations interpret and feed back on the detail of one of the largest planning applications ever in the UK!
Invasion of Iraq by troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland.
2004
Newham Council, The Government Office for London and the Mayor of London approve the Stratford City planning application.
London wins its bid for the 2012 Olympics.
London wins its bid for the 2012 Olympics.
2005
James Maddern leaves St Johns for a cross country mission to South Africa & later Vicar of Brize Norton
2005 in Pictures
2005 in Pictures
The Agreement between the Stratford City Development Partners and the London Borough of Newham is signed. This guarantees the developers will build 4,850 homes, 30 per cent of which will be affordable or key worker housing. They will put £120 million towards community benefits such as education, training and employment, health, leisure, transport and the environment. A joint venture is also set up between the LDA and Stratford City to create the Olympic Village together. The Stratford City Development Partners submit their masterplan for Zone 1 (the Town Centre District).
General Election:
Stephen Timms, Labour, East Ham.
Lyn Brown, Labour, West Ham.
General Election:
Stephen Timms, Labour, East Ham.
Lyn Brown, Labour, West Ham.
Sumatran earthquake rocks Indonesia, and at magnitude 8.7 is the second strongest earthquake since 1965.
Terrorist explosions occur on the London Underground network and on a London Bus.
Terrorist explosions occur on the London Underground network and on a London Bus.
2006
Enabling works begin on the Stratford City site, towards the construction of Phase 1 (Town Centre Extension).
2007
The new Channel Tunnel Rail Link route becomes operative.
Gordon Brown (Labour) becomes Prime Minister
2008
The biggest earthquake in the UK for nearly 25 years, 5.2 magnitude, shakes homes across large parts of the country, particularly at the epicentre near Market Rasen in Lincolnshire.
Boris Johnson unseats Ken Livingstone as Mayor of London
UK house prices show their biggest annual fall since the Nationwide began its housing survey in 1991, while the US government steps in to save Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the country's two largest lenders
Barak Obama becomes President of The United States
Boris Johnson unseats Ken Livingstone as Mayor of London
UK house prices show their biggest annual fall since the Nationwide began its housing survey in 1991, while the US government steps in to save Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the country's two largest lenders
Barak Obama becomes President of The United States
2009
Darren McIndoe leaves St John's to take up the position of Associate Minister at Emmanuel, Forest Gate & later Rector of Burslem and Middleport, Stoke-on-Trent.
2009 in Pictures
2009 in Pictures
Angel Cottage in Windmill Lane, one of the oldest buildings in Stratford, is illegally demolished by a property developer.
Icelandic government and banking system collapse, sending financial repercussions around the world.
Outbreak of the H1N1 influenza strain, known as "swine flu", is deemed a global pandemic, killing some 18,000 people in 214 countries.
Outbreak of the H1N1 influenza strain, known as "swine flu", is deemed a global pandemic, killing some 18,000 people in 214 countries.
2010
Stratford International Station opens but Eurostar announce that International Trains to Paris will not be stopping there.
David Cameron (Conservative) becomes Prime Minister in a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats
Protests in Tunisia & Algeria spark off the "Arab Spring"
Protests in Tunisia & Algeria spark off the "Arab Spring"
2011
Westfield Shopping City Opens
The "Arab Spring" continues with protests & revolutions right across the Arab world seeing the downfall of governments in Tunisia, Egypt & Libya & major changes in many other countries.
A financial crisis in the "Eurozone" sees economies across Europe struggling
Riots across many parts of London.
A financial crisis in the "Eurozone" sees economies across Europe struggling
Riots across many parts of London.
2012
The 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games