A decade of change
WHAT a decade! The biggest challenge facing Clive Hardy when he wrote his new book Around Manchester in the 1970s was what to leave out! So much was happening in the city and surrounding areas.
No one can forget the industrial unrest, the strikes and protests or the three-day week.
The impact of the 70s is still being felt now.
There was the bid D – decimalisation and the big E – entry into the European Economic Community for a start.
It was when Margaret Thatcher first swept into power after Jim Callaghan’s Winter of Discontent.
It was when power cuts and picket lines were commonplace and inflation nudged nearly 20 per cent.
It was the blistering heatwave of 1976 when the ground was scorched and the Drought Act was rushed through Parliament.
It was the heyday of Northern Soul, Wigan Casino, the Hollies, Herman’s Hermits, the Bee Gees, Saturday Night Fever and discomania.
It was the dawning of the punk era, the Stranglers and the Sex Pistols.
All this and much, much more is crammed into Clive’s brilliant new book which is available for pre-order now.
There’s a great introductory deal for M.E.N. readers!
Order the book before September 30 for the reduced price of £17.99 (postage free) and you’ll get an electronic version of the book absolutely free too!
The e-book normally retails at £9.99 so it’s a bargain not to be missed.
There are more than 300 images from the M.E.N. in Around Manchester in the 1970s that truly bring the decade to life.
“It was an absolute pleasure to write this book,” said Clive.
“It really doesn’t seem so long ago for me.
“Researching it was like catching up with an old friend.
“I’ve tried to capture as much as I can from the decade – so I hope there’s something for everyone.”
There are chapters on every aspect of life in Manchester, ranging from the world of work to leisure and entertainment.
All the big acts beat a path to Manchester.
Football takes a prominent place with a look back at the triumphs and tribulations of City, United, Bolton Wanderers, Oldham Athletic and Rochdale.
Cricket, rugby league, boxing, cycling, speedway and athletics all feature too.
There’s Joe Bugner boxing at Belle Vue and Tony Grieg humbling the Aussies at Old Trafford.
Today Nostalgia presents a flavour of some of the images and stories in Around Manchester in the 1970s. Times were hard for many. Housing was a real problem in parts of Manchester.
Despite its rehousing programme, Salford was said to have the worst slums in Europe in 1974.
Hulme Crescents was meant to be the flagship of social housing and was – in its day – the largest public housing development in Europe.
It was designed to accommodate 13,000 people.
But there were serious design flaws and construction errors.
There were also problems with sewage disposal, central heating failures, condensation, vermin and inadequate waste collection.
Some residents hankered after the terraces Hulme replaced – just like Archie Street which was the model for the TV series Coronation Street.
Corrie characters Stan and Hilda Ogden, alias Bernard Youens and Jean Alexander, paid a nostalgic visit there in August 1971, just before the street was demolished.
One of the TV weddings of the decade took place on the Street when Gail Potter married Brian Tilsley in November 1979.
Among the guests were Stan and Hilda, Ena Sharples (Violet Carson), Albert Tatlock (Jack Haworth), Deirdre Barlow (Anne Kirkbride), Ken Barlow (William Roache), Audrey Potter (Sue Nicholls) and Jack and Vera Duckworth (Liz Dawn and Bill Tarmey).
The Queen celebrated her Silver Jubilee in 1977. Our picture shows her chatting to crowds in Spinningfields in June 1971.
The year 1974 saw two general elections.
The first resulted in a hung parliament, the second saw Harold Wilson come to power with a majority of three.
Blackburn MP Barbara Castle was out campaigning in the streets of Salford in February.
Fresh calls for protective headgear for cricketers came in the wake of changes in fast bowling in the late 1960s.
Our photo shows Lancashire player David Lloyd testing on the latest headguard. Looks painful!
Manchester City defeated West Bromwich Albion 2-1 at Wembley to win the League Cup in 1970.
City skipper Tony Book was delighted to get his hands on the famous three-handled trophy. In Rugby League, Leigh won the 70th Challenge Cup Final at Wembley in May 1971, beating Leeds 24-7.
Glam Rock came to Manchester in the form of Marc Bolan who filmed a weekly TV show at Granada studios.
Teenage sensations the Bay City Rollers also recorded their TV show Shang-a-Lang at Granada.
The Rollers performed at Belle Vue in September 1976.
Around Manchester in the 1970s is now available to pre-order at the special price of £17.99 (free postage and packing) from the iNostalgia website – inostalgia.co.uk.
Alternatively you can fill out the coupon on this page. The offer, which also includes a free electronic version of Clive’s previous book Around Manchester in the 1960s, closes on September 30 so make sure you place your order now!
The book will be despatched in the week beginning September 25.
It will then go on general sale at a recommended retail price of £19.99.
In the meantime, Clive Hardy’s previous books, the muchacclaimed Around Manchester in the 1950s and Around Manchester in the 1960s, are on sale at all good bookshops.
Alternatively you can order the books from the iNostalgia website.