1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958   Cargo doors burst open on an Irish Sea ferry - 128 die At least 280 people drowned and thousands more made homeless as flood defences from Lincolnshire to Kent fail in high seas Stalin dies at 73 Two Cambridge scientists propose the theory of DNA Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tensing conquer Everest Elizabeth II is crowned Korean War ends NHS doctors prescribe anti-smog masks, costing a shilling (5p)     Copyright © 1998, NHS