The Chronicle

Britain may never have had it so good

JOBS APLENTY AND MORE CARS ON ROADS AS UK RECOVERS FROM THE WAR YEARS

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IT was a decade which began with post-war austerity dominating everyday life, but culminated in a Britain where we’d “never had it so good”.

We’ve arrived at the 1950s in our trawl through the decades

Six years after World War Two ended, rationing was still very much in place across the country and Britain’s towns and cities still bore the scars of conflict.

The Festival of Britain in 1951 was launched to promote a feeling of recovery and to celebrate British arts, science and industry.

On Tyneside that year, the new Howdon to Jarrow pedestrian tunnel under the Tyne was the region’s contributi­on.

The coronation of a young Queen at Westminste­r Abbey in 1953 saw Britain enter a new Elizabetha­n age – one which continues to this day. Again, the streets of the North East were decked out in celebratio­n.

In the summer of 1954, the end of rationing after 14 long years was, again, another reason to be cheerful.

Shoppers flooded the high streets in search of newfangled consumer goods.

This was an era when the wheels of British – and North East – industry were still turning. Work was plentiful, unemployme­nt was low, and schoolleav­ers had their choice of jobs.

The average price of a house in Britain was £2,300, while the average salary was £600.

Here in the region, this was a time just before our traditiona­l industries began the long decline that finally delivered the economic meltdown of the 1970s and 80s.

As the 1950s rolled by, the folk of Britain enjoyed more money in their pockets than ever before.

Motor cars, which had been the preserve of the rich, became affordable for the masses, and traffic increased on our roads.

People flocked to the cinema, and young people bought records and fashionabl­e clothes.

Teenagers found a voice, and a colourful image as teddy boys – dressed in Edwardian garb – danced to the wildly exciting new sounds of rock ’n’ roll.

In sport, Newcastle United were FA Cup kings, lifting the trophy three times - in 1951, 1952 and 1955.

In the wider world, however, Britain became a minor player in a new world order dominated by the United States and the Soviet Union.

If this was a time of consumer prosperity at home, it was also an age of nervy nuclear proliferat­ion, unmanned voyages into space, and the gradual Americanis­ation of the British way of life.

The 1960s were just around the corner. What would they have in store?

 ??  ?? A youngster looks on as the cargo vessel Celia slips quietly down the River Tyne in April, 1958
A youngster looks on as the cargo vessel Celia slips quietly down the River Tyne in April, 1958
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 ??  ?? People in Hawes Street, Byker, celebratin­g the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, June 2, 1953
People in Hawes Street, Byker, celebratin­g the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, June 2, 1953
 ??  ?? The Tyne Pedestrian and Cycle Tunnel between Jarrow and Howdon opens on July 24, 1951
The Tyne Pedestrian and Cycle Tunnel between Jarrow and Howdon opens on July 24, 1951
 ??  ?? Police officers at St James’ Park keep order as Newcastle United’s players parade the FA Cup after beating Manchester City at Wembley in May 1955
Police officers at St James’ Park keep order as Newcastle United’s players parade the FA Cup after beating Manchester City at Wembley in May 1955

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