Web Page No 2766 13th March 2021 1st Picture: Harold Wilson

- 2nd Picture: The Pill

3rd Picture. 11 + Tests

4th Picture: Ban the Bomb Marches

1960's Britain What was it like to live in Britain in the sixties? Certainly, many of the technological advances we enjoy today were unheard of then. There were no mobile phones or the Internet. There were limited opportunities for travel; for many, the most adventurous thing they could do was fly to Spain for their holidays. Looking back, we tend to look through rose tinted glasses so here are a few things from the 1960’s we may have forgotten The 60s - Issues of the day The big issue of the sixties was Dr Beeching's pruning of under-used of branch lines. So far other issues and newsworthy items were: CND - "Ban the Bomb" Marches The Profumo Scandal The death President John F Kennedy The death of Sir Winston Churchill Harold Wilson's Labour Government Sinking of the Torrey Canyon disaster Princess Margaret's Wedding The Rhodesian Crisis Apartheid in South Africa Biafra The Iron Curtain The Cuban Missile Crisis 11+ and selective state education Rising interest rates Winning the World Cup Manned space flight and landing on the moon What was better in the 60s than today? Many people remember a slower pace of life. There was less pressure to succeed and lower expectations. Although the sixties was, in many respects, a modern, forward looking decade, it was very different from today. I often wonder if every generation looks back on the previous one and sees a simpler, less complicated life. Less traffic and quieter roads. There were far fewer cars on the roads in the sixties. However, this did not stop some horrendous traffic jams in the holiday season. People were prepared to travel through the night to avoid traffic black spots on their way to the West Country and were often found sleeping in their cars in the early hours of the following morning. Respect . There was greater trust and neighbourliness in the sixties. Families did more together and there was a greater sense of family values. Religion was also more important than today (although even in the fifties less than ten percent of people went to church regularly). Freedom from crime, or perceived freedom from crime. In the sixties, in some areas, you could leave your house unlocked: "Children could play outside without too much worry" There was "freedom to walk around without fear" you "could trust people. Let children out to play without worrying" Less crowded was frequently mentioned. There was more open space and green belt in the sixties than today. Many people missed open parks and common land. There is much greater pressure to build on land today than in the sixties. Britain was cleaner in the sixties, there was less pollution and less noise. What is better today... there were four clear areas: better healthcare, more travel opportunities, technological advances and a freer, more equal society. Although there were many medical advances in the sixties people today have access to much better healthcare, in spite of the NHS waiting lists. Many people felt that this was a significant improvement in their lives. Travel opportunities and cheaper air travel in particular were mentioned by most of the responses. In the sixties, travel abroad was felt to be for the privileged classes only. Most people had to make do with a holiday in the UK. Technology has improved considerably since the sixties. There were no mobile phones or internet access then. Although for many people most of the labour-saving devices, we use in the home today were available in the sixties, they were luxuries rather than everyday products. Automatic washing machines and dishwashers were for the few, rather than for the majority. Today most people can afford them. Many of the social changes that began in the sixties were not carried out to their full course or universally accepted then. There is greater tolerance of different racial groups now than in the sixties and a greater recognition of women's rights. Overall, do you think life was better in the 60s than today? For some the sixties was better, but only because they were younger. For others it was a case of "Yes and No". Technological change and greater social freedoms balanced the loss of community and a simpler life. These are some of the commonest answers: Yes, but only because I was younger Life was not so complicated but more physical there were not so many household gadgets Safer, cleaner and children could be disciplined Less crowded Work culture different Better? Not sure! Possibly life was slower In a way, yes Prefer 2021 - travel - equality TV, information, computers Yes, but I had little or no responsibility then Here are three further responses. We need to re-evaluate post-war Britain. The 50s and 60s became more in touch with the spiritual and natural side of life. Life is far too commercial and 'consumer' now. The sixties were not so swinging just a reaction to the War and Victorian values. On the whole the sixties were happier times as it took so little to provide entertainment. Whereas today people have, so much and yet seem no happier and certainly don't seem to have the love of life we had. Maybe its because 1960 was only 5 years after all rationing ceased. " No the sixties were better. I think the teenagers of the sixties had the best of everything. War baby boomer's parents had nothing as children and wanted to shower their children with the best they could afford. The parents had broken the back of music resistance with Rock’n’roll leaving the 60s wide open for a world change in music. And change it did, also along came the pill. What more could you ask for, great music - free love and no really nasty diseases that could not be cured. These days it's not worrying about getting a girl pregnant - more are you going to die in ten years from aids? There is no contest - now can you turn me back to 16 please! How do you feel? I know That I grew up in the 1960’s and loved it. Peter gsseditor@gmail.com You Write: News and Views: ON THIS DAY 13th March 1960 – 1965 On 13/03/1560 the number one single was Running Bear - Johnny Preston and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was The Larkins (ATV) and the box office smash was Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Burnley were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. On 13/03/1561 the number one single was Walk Right Back/Ebony Eyes - Everly Brothers and the number one album was GI Blues - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was No Hiding Place (AR) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. On 13/03/1562 the number one single was Rock-a-Hula Baby/Can't Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley and the number one album was Blue Hawaii - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the week was Skull found buried in Downing Street. On 13/03/1563 the number one single was Summer Holiday - Cliff Richard & the Shadows and the number one album was Summer Holiday - Cliff Richard & the Shadows. The top rated TV show was Conservative Party Political Broadcast (all channels) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champion. On 13/03/1564 the number one single was Little Children - Billy J Kramer and the number one album was With the Beatles - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Conservative Party Political Broadcast (all channels) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. On 13/03/1565 the number one single was The Last Time - Rolling Stones and the number one album was Rolling Stones Number 2 - The Rolling Stones. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.