LOSE YOURSELF IN 1965

POST OFFICE TOWER OPENS

Prime Minister Harold Wilson officially declared the new Post Office Tower open in September although members of the public would not be able to access it until May of the following year. The restaurant performed a complete rotation every 23 minutes and ordering ‘Le Melon Frappé’ followed by ‘Les Medallions de Filet de Boeuf Sautées au Beurre Noir’ on the 36th floor became the epitome of the ‘Swinging London’ dream for many Britons.

700 YEARS OF A BRITISH INSTITUTION

The British Parliament marked its 700th birthday this year with commemorations in London plus a set of Royal Mail stamps. Established in 1265 and, aside from a few temporary breaks, always held at London’s Palace of Westminster – then part of a small village outside London – this ‘Mother of Parliaments’ was the brainchild of Simon de Montfort after he defeated King Henry III in battle. As well as barons and knights there were representatives from the major towns of the nation, becoming what was later dubbed the House of Commons.

THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO!

The best-loved of all Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s puppet sci-fi series, Thunderbirds, received its television premiere on ITV on 30 September. Filmed in Supermarionation and set in the 2060s – so we haven’t yet caught up with its technology – it featured the exploits of International Rescue and its fantastic selection of sea, air and spacecraft, plus Lady Penelope and her pink six-wheeled Rolls-royce FAB1 with chauffeur Parker of course. Who didn’t want to live on the gadgetladen Tracy Island as soon as they saw their first episode?