Sep 11
September 11 — UK Responds
67 British citizens died in the 9/11 attacks. Blair stood 'shoulder to shoulder' with Bush. Britain would follow America into Afghanistan — and later Iraq.
Global trauma — honor British victims
🇬🇧United Kingdom · 00s
9/11 and Foot-and-Mouth
Terror, burning pyres, and The Office.
What happened
4 milestones of 2001
Feb-Oct
Foot-and-Mouth Disease Crisis
The worst foot-and-mouth outbreak since 1967. 6 million animals slaughtered. The countryside burned with funeral pyres. Tourism devastated. Rural Britain traumatized.
Agricultural disaster — acknowledge farmers' distress
Jun 7
Labour Wins Landslide Again
Blair won a second landslide (413 seats). But turnout fell to 59% — the lowest since 1918. Apathy was winning.
Oct 7
War in Afghanistan Begins
British forces joined the US invasion of Afghanistan. Operation Veritas. 457 British servicemen and women would die over 20 years.
War — honor service personnel
What was playing
70% local · 30% international
What was in cinemas
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Chris Columbus — Hogwarts opened. Britain's biggest cultural export since the Beatles.
Bridget Jones's Diary
Sharon Maguire — Renee Zellweger as everywoman. Colin Firth vs Hugh Grant.
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship
Peter Jackson — Middle-earth began. British and NZ talent combined.
Enemy at the Gates
Jean-Jacques Annaud — Major UK release — TMDB 7.4
Iris
Richard Eyre — Major UK release — TMDB 6.4
What was on TV
The Office
2001-2003 — David Brent. 'That's what she said.' British cringe comedy perfected.
Pop Idol
2001-2003 — Will Young vs Gareth Gates. Simon Cowell's talent show empire began.
9/11 coverage
Sep 2001 — BBC and ITV abandoned schedules. The UK watched in horror.
How much things cost
Currency: GBP
Pint of milk36p
Pint of bitter£1.98
Average house£95,828
Cinema ticket£4.50
Inflation: 1.8%
9/11 shock. Foot-and-mouth devastation. The mood darkened. Blair's honeymoon was ending.
Then vs. Now
Inflation-adjusted values
Pint of milkONS
2001 (GBP)
36p
→
Today's value (£)
--
Pint of bitterBBPA
2001 (GBP)
£1.98
→
Today's value (£)
--
Average houseONS
2001 (GBP)
£95,828
→
Today's value (£)
--
Cinema ticketBFI
2001 (GBP)
£4.50
→
Today's value (£)
--
Technology
iPod (UK launch soon)
Apple's music player launched in the US. UK launch in late 2001.
Wikipedia
Free encyclopedia launched — Brits were early adopters.
Xbox
Microsoft's console launched in UK.
Pop Culture
Fashion
Low-rise boot-cut jeansVelour tracksuitsTrucker hatsVintage tees
Slang
Sick— Really good, amazing
Safe— Good, reliable, OK
Allow it— Leave it, forget about it
Behavior
- 9/11 changed the national conversation — security, Islam, foreign policy
- The countryside was traumatized by foot-and-mouth pyres
- Harry Potter united the country in escapist joy
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