A question for the over-50s who grew up in Britain; how were the 1970s for you?
This week, the Tavern’s Wise Woman described with astonishment hearing some younger friends reminiscing about a golden age of hot summers and fun - a far cry from her own memories of struggling through a decade of strikes, inflation and high taxes, not to mention mortgage rates of 15%
Perhaps the few extra years make the difference; while her juniors were still enjoying the burgeoning of pop music, cheap fashion, exotic food, foreign travel and colour television, she had moved on to domestic responsibilities - strike-generated power-cuts, shortages and transport problems might seem trivial or even amusing if you are young, free and single but rather less so to anyone with a family to support or caring for infant or elderly dependents.
We have reached a point where the three-day week and the Winter of Discontent are more mythology than history, eclipsed for anyone between 50 and 65 - and perhaps for a number of senior Labour figures - by the positive aspects of a decade that was, in general, a fine time to be a child; it was the adults who bore the brunt of the extensive strikes by transport and haulage workers, gravediggers and refuse collectors or the NHS hospitals closed by picket lines.
With the unions flexing their muscles - even the NEU has been calling for the return of flying pickets and the closed shop - and a Deputy Prime Minister arguably promoted beyond her capabilities because of trade union backing, it looks as if we are about to see George Santayana proved right once again.
Is was born in 1975, so the 80's and 90's were my bag. That's why I don't mind Bananarama so much
ReplyDeleteMore importantly, you are presumably fortunate enough not to have to endure seeing photographs of your younger self in bell-bottom trousers.
DeleteTrousers, no. Going to primary school with very big hair, yes
DeleteI’d argue that big hair’s probably a bit lower on the subsequent photo embarrassment scale than purple flares and a skinny t-shirt.
DeleteIn fact, as I understand it, it’s now a protected characteristic or something…
I suppose it depends on your perspective. It's defo protected though :-)
DeleteI was unfortunate to be posted, as an Army Sgt, to the Ministry of Defence, in 1973, to a mixed military/civilian department, so was there during the miner's strike and the 3 day week. Once the power went off, the civvies all went home, leaving the military contingent to do their work as well, often by candle light, and at weekends. We became experts in removing candle grease from clothing, as well as diplomacy when the civvies returned the next weekday.
ReplyDeletePenseivat
I can’t help wondering what would happen at today’s MOD if the power was lost - always assuming they aren’t all working from home anyway.
DeleteWe’ve been talking of candles this week -and specifically how modern children would react to the idea of carving out a tattie bogle made from a turnip or swede and holding a real candle (rather than H&S-approved battery lights) - once smelt, never forgotten.
The 1970s were okay for us, marriage our first house, first child, new jobs. Yes it was a decade of strikes, inflation and high taxes, but there were compensations, we knew we were better off than our parents had been at the same age.
ReplyDeleteWe weren't unaware of the problems of course, but we were busy and life has to be lived - as now.
True - when it’s all going on, you’re far too busy to step back and evaluate.
DeleteThere were certainly difficulties for many (we had redundancies in the family as a direct result of manufacturing firms bankrupted by the hauliers’/dockers’ strikes) but, on the whole, I think adults tried to shield children from the worst of it - hence their surprisingly enthusiastic nostalgia for the decade half a century on.