Feb 9
Miners' Strike and Three-Day Week
The miners struck again. Heath called a general election asking 'Who governs Britain?' The electorate answered: not you. Labour won a narrow victory. Wilson returned as PM.
🇬🇧United Kingdom · 70s
Who Governs Britain?
Heath asked 'Who governs Britain?' — the miners answered, and Wilson returned to Downing Street.
What happened
5 milestones of 1974
Nov 21
Birmingham Pub Bombings
IRA bombs exploded in two Birmingham pubs, killing 21 people and injuring 182. It was the deadliest IRA attack on the British mainland. The 'Birmingham Six' were wrongly convicted and spent 16 years in prison.
Terrorism and miscarriage of justice — honour victims, acknowledge wrongful convictions
Oct 10
Second General Election
Wilson called a second election to increase his majority. He won — but with only a majority of 3. Two elections in one year. The country was exhausted and divided.
Nov 7
Lord Lucan Disappears
Lord Lucan vanished after his children's nanny, Sandra Rivett, was found murdered. He was never seen again. The case became Britain's most enduring aristocratic mystery.
Murder victim — remember Sandra Rivett
Apr 6
ABBA Win Eurovision
ABBA won Eurovision in Brighton with 'Waterloo.' The contest was held in the UK. Swedish pop conquered the world from a British stage. A global phenomenon was born.
What was playing
70% local · 30% international
What was in cinemas
The Great Gatsby
Jack Clayton — Robert Redford. British director takes on Fitzgerald.
Murder on the Orient Express
Sidney Lumet — Albert Finney as Poirot. All-star cast. Christie done properly.
The Man with the Golden Gun
Guy Hamilton — Roger Moore's second Bond. Christopher Lee as Scaramanga.
Chinatown
Roman Polanski — Jack Nicholson. 'Forget it, Jake.' American noir popular in UK.
Blazing Saddles
Mel Brooks — Western comedy. Outrageous. UK audiences loved it.
What was on TV
The Wombles
1973-1975 — Wimbledon Common's litter-picking puppets. Great Uncle Bulgaria. 'Remember you're a Womble.'
Porridge
1974-1977 — Ronnie Barker as Norman Stanley Fletcher in Slade Prison. Perfect sitcom.
Rising Damp
1974-1978 — Leonard Rossiter as Rigsby the landlord. Brilliant and cringe.
Tiswas
1974-1982 — Chris Tarrant. Custard pies. Saturday morning chaos.
It Ain't Half Hot Mum
1974-1981 — Concert party in wartime Burma. Controversial but popular.
How much things cost
Currency: GBP
Pint of milk6p
Loaf of bread15p
Pint of bitter16p
Average house£10,990
Gallon of petrol50p
Cinema ticket50p
Inflation: 16.0%
Inflation at 16%. Oil crisis aftermath. Two elections in one year. The economy was spiralling. The post-war settlement was dying.
Then vs. Now
Inflation-adjusted values
Pint of milkONS
1974 (GBP)
6p
→
Today's value (£)
--
Loaf of breadONS
1974 (GBP)
15p
→
Today's value (£)
--
Pint of bitterBBPA
1974 (GBP)
16p
→
Today's value (£)
--
Average houseONS
1974 (GBP)
£10,990
→
Today's value (£)
--
Gallon of petrolAA
1974 (GBP)
50p
→
Today's value (£)
--
Cinema ticketBFI
1974 (GBP)
50p
→
Today's value (£)
--
Technology
Ceefax
BBC's teletext service launched — text information on your TV screen.
Pocket calculators
Now cheap enough for school children. Slide rules becoming obsolete.
North Sea oil
First oil flowing from British North Sea fields.
Concorde
Test flights continuing — commercial service approaching.
Home computers
Still distant but hobbyist kits appearing in America.
Pop Culture
Fashion
Glam rock fading into disco preparationPlatform shoes at their most extremeBay City Rollers tartan — scarves and turn-up jeans
Slang
Mega— Excellent, massive
Plonker— A fool
Nutter— A crazy person
Behavior
- Two elections created political fatigue and cynicism
- IRA bombings brought fear to everyday pub-going
- The Wombles taught children about recycling before it was fashionable
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