random retro-spective

Margaret Thatcher wins the 1979 General Election

Margaret Thatcher beats James Callaghan in the race to Number Ten

Mrs Thatcher led the Conservative Party into government after victory on May 3rd, 1979

in this section

welcome to the 1970s

So here we are then... the decade that brought you disco, platform shoes, Star Wars, Saturday Night Fever, Abba and Margaret Thatcher.

There's an overview of the whole decade on this page but to find out more about one particular year use the links below or to the right to take you straight to your favourite seventies year.

1970

The age of majority in the UK was reduced from 21 to 18
The first jumbo jet landed at Heathrow Airport
The Beatles went to court to dissolve their partnership
The Tories were back in power after a surprise election victory for Edward Heath
Coronation Street's 1,000th episode was transmitted
Find out more about the news, sport and entertainment stories of 1970

1971

Apollo 14 landed safely on the moon
Opportunity Knocks was Britain's most popular television show with an audience of 6.6 million.
The Post Office Tower in Central London was bombed
The Government was planning the UK's first 60 commercial radio stations
Micro skirts were just coming into fashion
Find out more about the news, sport and entertainment stories of 1971

1972

Power cuts ended after 20 days of blackouts because of the miners' strike
Paul McCartney was fined for possessing cannabis
Access credit cards were introduced for the first time
Unemployment in the UK rose to more than a million
Leeds United beat Arsenal 1-0 in the FA Cup Final at Wembley
Find out more about the news, sport and entertainment stories of 1972

1973

VAT was introduced for the first time in the UK
The Government imposed a compulsory 50mph speed limit on motorways to save fuel as oil prices rose.
Britain, Ireland and Denmark became members of the EEC
Red Rum won the Grand National at Aintree
Elizabeth Taylor announced she'd left Richard Burton
Find out more about the news, sport and entertainment stories of 1973

1974

Great Train robber Ronnie Biggs was arrested in Brazil
President Nixon was named in the Watergate scandal
Harold Wilson began his third term as Prime Minister
Sir Alf Ramsey was sacked as England's football manager
The first-ever professional football matches were played on a Sunday - because of a power shortage
Find out more about the news, sport and entertainment stories of 1974

1975

Edward Heath resigned as Tory leader, he was replaced by Margaret Thatcher
Mr Rubik introduced the world to a new toy - the Rubik cube
London had its hottest day for 35 years - temperatures reached 32°C on August 7th
Charlie Chaplin and P.G. Wodehouse were knighted in the New Year Honours
Find out more about the news, sport and entertainment stories of 1975

1976

The Queen opened the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham
MPs approved a Bill to make the wearing of seat belts compulsory
Actor Sid James collapsed on stage in Sunderland and died later in hospital
The Coal Board got the go-ahead to build the world's largest pit near Selby
The UK inflation rate dropped to 18.9%
Find out more about the news, sport and entertainment stories of 1976

1977

Elvis Presley was found dead at his Graceland home in Memphis
The Queen celebrated her Silver Jubilee on February 6th
The average house price in London was £16,731
New smaller pound notes were introduced
Virginia Wade won the Ladies Singles at Wimbledon - the last Britain to win the All England title
Find out more about the news, sport and entertainment stories of 1977

1978

The 12" single was introduced for the first time
Geoffrey Boycott was sacked as captain of Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Express Newspapers announced plans for a new national tabloid called The Daily Star
Presidents Sadat and Carter called for a Palestinian role in the Middle East Peace Process
Find out more about the news, sport and entertainment stories of 1978

1979

There was widespread disruption to food and petrol supplies during the winter of discontent
Trevor Francis became Britain's first million pound footballer
The mortgage rate increased by 3.5% to a record 15%
James Callaghan called an election for May 3rd which was won by Margaret Thatcher
Find out more about the news, sport and entertainment stories of 1979

what do you remember about the 70s?

Seen something that has jogged your memory or reminded you of something you thought you'd forgotten? Please tell us about it!








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