O/T Best decade to live in Britain

[monty_rhodes]

People generally say the time when they were young though hence the people saying 70s when the economy was knackered, there were strikes, power cuts and we had to be bailed out by the IMF, not to mention wingtips, platform boots and living rooms in brown and orange.

The idea that the economy was "knackered" might be true at a macroeconomic level - I don't know. But the thread is about the best time for the individual. In the 70s I got a grant to go to Uni and so did my wife. The SSRC fully funded a further three years postgrad research for me. Both my wife and I got secure jobs almost straightaway with final salary pensions. The NHS paid for her to develop her career. The Civil Service sponsored me to do another degree in Estate Management. We bought a house.
Every person I knew at Uni who wanted it went into graduate level employment with decent pay, conditions and a pension.
When I consider what my kids have had to go through in the last decade give me the 70s any day.

[CTMilller]

Nn

The idea that the economy was "knackered" might be true at a macroeconomic level - I don't know. But the thread is about the best time for the individual. In the 70s I got a grant to go to Uni and so did my wife. The SSRC fully funded a further three years postgrad research for me. Both my wife and I got secure jobs almost straightaway with final salary pensions. The NHS paid for her to develop her career. The Civil Service sponsored me to do another degree in Estate Management. We bought a house.
Every person I knew at Uni who wanted it went into graduate level employment with decent pay, conditions and a pension.
When I consider what my kids have had to go through in the last decade give me the 70s any day.

Hmmmmm, some truth in that Monty. From what you've said elsewhere you're a year younger than me so we hit the seventies at about the same time.

I'd say the advantages you mention in terms of educational support and final pay pensions were the product of post war legislation and were equally relevant to the fifties and sixties. Plentiful jobs were a feature of the sixties too.

What marked the seventies down economically was the problem of rampant inflation. Mortgage rates went up over 13%, wages rose but were soon eroded by such rapid rises in the cost of living. There were attempts at government wage restraint - largely unsuccessful - and the value of the pound slid against major currencies. We were held to ransom by OPEC and petrol supplies dried up causing interminable waits at the pumps. Industrial relations were at an all time low with stagnant old fashioned management practice and union radicalism. It was a time of three day weeks and power cuts. England looked and felt "seedy" in my mind. We were trying to maintain great nation status and failing badly.

I left England for the U.S. early in 1975. Not because I was dissatisfied with it all. An opportunity was offered and I took it. But America seemed so much more affluent and my standard of living rocketed. Everything from getting a phone installed to getting a loan to buy a car seemed to work so much more efficiently.

Clearly there were good aspects to living in Britain in the 70s and I believe economically things improved. I was back for a few years in 1978 and it did seem more stable and affluent.

I'm not really debating your well made observations based on what you experienced; just offering a different perspective. As you say the question is about individual preference rather than a macro level observation.

[thaimillerfan]

Hi obviously we all will pick the years we were ****agers to the late twenties. But yes for me the 60s were the best, soul music, Beatles craze many british bands that were famous that ordinary working class fans could get to see, The four tops in Sheffield Edwin starr at Rawmarsh baths, Lulu there as well. mods n Rockers Rotherham many years surviving in the now known as champions league(old second division}Went down town Rotherham yes as it was not as it is and you knew just about anyone night club everynight Pendulum. high house, Adam n Eve, Up n Up, boardwalk up Wickersly way, also the one just before white lion kimberworth rd cant remember the name begins with L think. place at the back of Ring o bells kimberworth. I had 8 jobs in my first two years of leaving school now Im 68 400 pound pension a month cant get a job struggling to survive so yes I left UK and came out here to Thailand miss watching The millers but keep up to date with the thanks to all who contribute to Millers mad cheers guys n gals

[WanChaiMiller]

69 to 79 for me because in 1973 Wigan Casino opend it doors for the famous Northern Soul All Nighters.

Wigan closed in 1981 but I had stopped going in 1979 as it had changed from an underground scene into a pop scene by that time.

As a young 14 year old heading to Wigan Casino for the 1st time in 1973 and joining the massive queue outside and then been pushed through the doors as the line suddenly surged forward, all the time repeating to myself 23/08/1955 23/08/1955 23/08/1955 so as to make my age 18 and old enough to get in.

Once past the ticket lady and a walk up the steps to the main room into the heart of the Casino and hearing "Get It Baby" blasting from the speakers with a thumping beat will live with me forever. It was a great time to be alive.



I made friends from all over the UK and some from as far away as the USA at Wigan and am still in touch with a lot of them to this day.

The feeling of hearing an intro to a song you liked and wanted to dance too and the rush of other people who had also heard the intro and started for the dance floor was electric. At times it came very very close to orgasmic and I'm not even joking.

I wish I could travel back to those times and discover Northern Soul Music and the places that played it all over again.

Really good read.

[BigLadonOS]

Jj

That was a great read....

Thanks CTM, glad you enjoyed it.

[BigLadonOS]

It was but I found the "orgasmic" part a bit much at 05.20 in the morning!

You've never lived mate

[BigLadonOS]

Really good read.

Thanks WCM glad you enjoyed it.

[monty_rhodes]

Nn

Hmmmmm, some truth in that Monty. From what you've said elsewhere you're a year younger than me so we hit the seventies at about the same time.

I'd say the advantages you mention in terms of educational support and final pay pensions were the product of post war legislation and were equally relevant to the fifties and sixties. Plentiful jobs were a feature of the sixties too.

What marked the seventies down economically was the problem of rampant inflation. Mortgage rates went up over 13%, wages rose but were soon eroded by such rapid rises in the cost of living. There were attempts at government wage restraint - largely unsuccessful - and the value of the pound slid against major currencies. We were held to ransom by OPEC and petrol supplies dried up causing interminable waits at the pumps. Industrial relations were at an all time low with stagnant old fashioned management practice and union radicalism. It was a time of three day weeks and power cuts. England looked and felt "seedy" in my mind. We were trying to maintain great nation status and failing badly.

I left England for the U.S. early in 1975. Not because I was dissatisfied with it all. An opportunity was offered and I took it. But America seemed so much more affluent and my standard of living rocketed. Everything from getting a phone installed to getting a loan to buy a car seemed to work so much more efficiently.

Clearly there were good aspects to living in Britain in the 70s and I believe economically things improved. I was back for a few years in 1978 and it did seem more stable and affluent.

I'm not really debating your well made observations based on what you experienced; just offering a different perspective. As you say the question is about individual preference rather than a macro level observation.

Born in May 1952 CT. My starting date above was 1963. I only became economically active really in 1970 so can't speak from personal experience about the economic situation prior to that. I may be putting a positive spin on the 70s in part because several posters on MM over the years have the Iron Lady as a cross between Nelson and St george riding in to transform a nation on its knees. Just not how I remember it although the price of a pint going from 10p to 50p in five or six years was a pain!

[BigLadonOS]

I left School in 1975 at the tender age of 15 (a month before I was 16) I worked part time at Fosters supermarket stacking shelves at the top of Whinney Hill in Thrybergh until I was 16. I'd worked there from being 12 years old, first job was taking customers trollies to cars and helping them unload goods. At 16 I got my first full time job at Crossland's foundry in Parkgate as a Green sand floor molder. £14,00 a week including bonus.

I tipped up to my mam and she gave me £8.00 back for myself. £8 in those days was a lot of money for a 16 year old.

I started to build my record collection, buying 1 record a fortnight at the cost of between £3 and £5 a record. Beer was 12p a pint, Cigs were 25p for 20 and bus fair was 6p each way to Town.

The Town Center in those days was a great place for nightlife. Adam n Eve, Tiffany's (formally a Bowling Ally) The Dickens Inn, The Charter Arms, The Angel and many more in and around Rotherham it's self. The Assembly Rooms in the Town Center was a special place too. Held on a Thursday night if memory serves and was full of Northern Soulies and Mods all having a wonderful time.

Jobs were 2 a penny and you could walk out of a job on Friday and be back in work for the Monday. (NOT a joke either)

Every Friday morning Circles record shop was heaving with people buying all sorts of Records with their hard earned money from Thursdays pay packet.

We were an optimistic generation and we had our lives in front of us.

Then came the 80's but that's another story............

[monty_rhodes]

Whinney Hill brings back memories, BigLad. Some interesting snippets in that post. Thanks.
PS. I worked in a mate's record shop in Lancaster for a year, 1976-7. Wages were poor but we got first pick of any special editions and could get LPs and singles at cost; built my collection on that year's acqusitions. Loads of people came in who were regulars at Wigan but I never went.