🇬🇧United Kingdom · 70s
Bloody Sunday
Soldiers shot civilians in Derry, miners defeated the government, and Ziggy Stardust fell to Earth.
5 milestones of 1972
British paratroopers shot 26 unarmed civil rights marchers in Derry, Northern Ireland. 14 died. The Saville Inquiry (2010) found all the victims were innocent. It was the darkest day of the Troubles.
State violence against civilians — present with deep sensitivity, acknowledge 2010 Saville findings that killings were unjustified
The miners went on strike for the first time since 1926. Flying pickets led by Arthur Scargill closed the Saltley Gate coke depot. The government declared a state of emergency. The miners won a 27% pay rise.
Heath suspended the Stormont parliament and imposed direct rule from Westminster. Northern Ireland would be governed from London for the next 26 years. The Troubles escalated — 1972 was the bloodiest year with 496 deaths.
The Troubles — acknowledge all victims, avoid partisan framing
Uganda's dictator Idi Amin expelled 80,000 Asians. 28,000 came to Britain with British passports. Despite initial hostility, they built thriving communities. Leicester and other cities were enriched.
Refugees and racism — celebrate the resilience of Ugandan Asians, acknowledge hostile reception
Palestinian terrorists took Israeli athletes hostage at the Munich Olympics. 11 Israelis were killed. The world watched in horror on live television. Sport and politics were inseparable.
Terrorism and its victims — factual, respectful
70% local · 30% international
The Godfather
Francis Ford Coppola — Brando's Corleone. An offer UK audiences couldn't refuse.
Cabaret
Bob Fosse — Liza Minnelli in Weimar Berlin. 'Life is a cabaret, old chum.'
Sleuth
Joseph L. Mankiewicz — Olivier vs Caine. Two actors, one country house, pure theatre.
Deliverance
John Boorman — British director, American river. Duelling banjos. Terrifying.
Young Winston
Richard Attenborough — Simon Ward as young Churchill. British biopic.
Ziggy Stardust on Top of the Pops
Jul 1972 — Bowie performed 'Starman' with his arm around Mick Ronson. Everything changed.
Are You Being Served?
1972-1985 — Grace Brothers department store. 'I'm free!' Innuendo heaven.
Emmerdale Farm
1972-present — ITV's rural soap launched from a Yorkshire village.
The Stone Tape
1972 — Nigel Kneale's sci-fi horror. BBC's Christmas ghost story.
Munich Olympics Coverage
Sep 1972 — Live coverage of the hostage crisis. Television's darkest sporting moment.
Currency: GBP
Inflation: 7.1%
House prices booming. Inflation rising. Industrial unrest. The post-war consensus was breaking apart.
Inflation-adjusted values
Pocket calculators
Sinclair Executive — the first slim pocket calculator, designed in Britain.
Video games
Pong launched in American arcades — gaming was born.
Home computers (early)
Microprocessors making personal computing theoretically possible.
Colour TV spreading
More homes switching to colour — prices falling slowly.
Concorde testing
Supersonic test flights expanding — commercial launch approaching.
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