Jan 10
Harold Macmillan Becomes PM
After Eden's resignation over Suez, Harold Macmillan became Prime Minister. By July he told the nation: 'Most of our people have never had it so good.' The consumer age had arrived.
🇬🇧United Kingdom · 50s
Never Had It So Good
Macmillan said you never had it so good. Sputnik said the future was Russian.
What happened
5 milestones of 1957
Oct 10
Windscale Fire
A fire in the Windscale nuclear reactor in Cumbria released radioactive contamination. Milk from surrounding farms was destroyed for weeks. The worst nuclear accident in British history was hushed up for decades.
Nuclear accident — acknowledge cover-up, impact on communities
Mar 6
Ghana Independence
Ghana became the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence from Britain. Kwame Nkrumah became Prime Minister. The 'Wind of Change' was blowing through Africa.
Decolonization — celebrate independence, acknowledge colonial legacy
Oct 4
Sputnik Launched
The Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first artificial satellite. Britain and the West were stunned. The space race had begun, and Britain wasn't in it.
Dec 25
Christmas Broadcast on Television
The Queen's Christmas message was televised for the first time. Previously radio-only, Elizabeth II now spoke directly to the nation from Sandringham. A new tradition was born.
What was playing
70% local · 30% international
What was in cinemas
The Bridge on the River Kwai
David Lean — Alec Guinness. 7 Oscars. The whistle. David Lean's masterpiece.
Doctor at Large
Ralph Thomas — Dirk Bogarde returns. British comedy sequel audiences loved.
The Prince and the Showgirl
Laurence Olivier — Olivier and Marilyn Monroe. Pinewood Studios at its most glamorous.
12 Angry Men
Sidney Lumet — Henry Fonda in a jury room. Powerful American drama popular in UK.
The Curse of Frankenstein
Terence Fisher — Hammer Horror born. Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. Blood in colour.
What was on TV
Six-Five Special
1957-1958 — BBC's first pop music show. 'Over the points, over the points!'
Emergency – Ward 10
1957-1967 — ITV hospital drama. Britain's first twice-weekly serial.
Queen's Christmas Broadcast (TV)
1957 — First televised Christmas message. 'I wish you all a happy Christmas.'
The Sky at Night
1957-present — Patrick Moore launched the longest-running show with the same presenter.
Tonight
1957-1965 — Cliff Michelmore's nightly current affairs. Set the template for modern news.
How much things cost
Currency: GBP
Pint of milk5d
Loaf of bread6d
Pint of bitter1s 5d
Average house£2,330
Gallon of petrol4s 6d
Cinema ticket2s
Inflation: 3.7%
Consumer boom — hire purchase made washing machines and TVs accessible. 'Never had it so good' had some truth.
Then vs. Now
Inflation-adjusted values
Pint of milkONS
1957 (GBP)
5d
→
Today's value (£)
--
Loaf of breadONS
1957 (GBP)
6d
→
Today's value (£)
--
Pint of bitterBBPA
1957 (GBP)
1s 5d
→
Today's value (£)
--
Average houseONS
1957 (GBP)
£2,330
→
Today's value (£)
--
Gallon of petrolAA
1957 (GBP)
4s 6d
→
Today's value (£)
--
Cinema ticketBFI
1957 (GBP)
2s
→
Today's value (£)
--
Technology
Sputnik
The Soviet satellite beeped overhead — the space age began.
Jodrell Bank
The Lovell Telescope tracked Sputnik — Britain's space contribution.
Nuclear power
Calder Hall operating, despite the Windscale fire scare.
Transistor radios
Portable radios becoming affordable — teenagers had their own music.
Washing machines
Automatic washing machines spreading through British homes.
Pop Culture
Fashion
Teddy Boys still dominant but rock 'n' roll style arrivingPencil skirts and stiletto heels for womenItalian coffee bar culture — espresso machines in Soho
Slang
Fab— Fabulous
Square— Boring, conventional person
Cool— Excellent, admirable (via American jazz)
Behavior
- Coffee bars became teenage meeting places — the 2i's in Soho launched careers
- Skiffle groups formed everywhere — including a Liverpool lad called Lennon
- Hire purchase made consumer goods accessible — the consumer age arrived
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