Events from the year 1988 in Scotland.
Incumbents
Secretary of State for Scotland and Keeper of the Great Seal – Malcolm Rifkind
Law officers
Lord Advocate – Lord Cameron of Lochbroom
Solicitor General for Scotland – Peter Fraser
Judiciary
Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General – Lord Emslie
Lord Justice Clerk – Lord Ross
Chairman of the Scottish Land Court – Lord Elliott
Events
March – Seafield Colliery at Kirkcaldy closes. 26 April–26 September – Glasgow Garden Festival. Bell's Bridge is built in connection with it. 21 May – "Sermon on the Mound": Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, addresses the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. 6 July – Piper Alpha oil rig in the North Sea explodes and results in the death of 167 workers. 7 August – Scotland on Sunday newspaper launched. 2 November – Housing (Scotland) Act 1988, receives Royal Assent. 10 November – The Scottish National Party win the Glasgow Govan by-election from Labour with a swing of 33%. 21 December – Pan Am Flight 103 explodes over the town of Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway, and kills a total of 270 people – including all 259 on board. It is believed that the cause of the explosion was a terrorist bomb.
Births
7 January – Alan Lowing, footballer
2 June – Grado (Graeme Stevely), professional wrestler and screen actor
21 July – Chris Mitchell, footballer (died 2016) 22 October – Sharon Rooney, actress 5 December – Omar Raza, actor 30 December – Leon Jackson, pop singer
Deaths
11 February – Marion Crawford, Scottish educator and governess to Princess Margaret and Queen Elizabeth II (born 1909) 12 April – Harry McShane, socialist (born 1891) 26 August – Oscar Marzaroli, photographer (born 1933 in Italy)
The Arts
August – The Proclaimers release their album Sunshine on Leith with lead single "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)".