Memories

"Baby Boomers got their name from the rapid rise in births post war (WWII), it just so happens that I can proudly announce to being one of this so-called clan. The generation is generally defined as people born between 1946 and 1964. We apparently value relationships, are goal-centric, self-assured, resourceful and now (like me) looking back at the many changes that have had some impact on their life.  

Being born and bred in Aberdeen and now in retirement, my thoughts of the many changes that have taken place through the past decades have resulted in reminiscing with friends, usually with the words 'Do you remember?'. As there were many topics, I thought I'd compile a few memories which people of my generation could associate with and include their own special memories lost in time. 

I hope some of the topics listed will bring back fond memories, and if nothing else will generate your own conversation along the lines of 'Do you remember?'"

Bill

May 2021

Decimalisation

"Switchover was introduced on Monday 15 February 1971, also known as Decimal Day. Currency converters were available for everyone, and prices in the shops were shown in both old and new currencies. Before this date in the UK, the British pound was made up of 20 shillings, each of which was made up of 12 pence, a total of 240 pence. With decimalisation, the pound kept its old value and name, and the only changes were in relation to the subunits. The shilling was abolished, and the pound was subdivided into 100 “new pence”, each of which was worth 2.4 “old pence”.

You can see a complete set of pre-decimalisation coins from 1971 in the photograph, I’m sure the children of the 50s will recognise them. Quite a heavy bunch of coins to keep in your purse in those days ladies, with lots of holes in pockets for the blokes. Afraid I didn’t keep the paper banknotes of the time, but it was quite common to see leather wallets showing gold foil markings for holding £5, £1 and 10 shilling notes.

Causing further confusion, you will recall there were different slang terms for the different coins. The best known of these were ‘bob’ for a shilling, and ‘quid’ for a pound. A farthing was a ‘mag’, a silver three pence was a ‘joey’ and the later cupro-nickel three pence (pronounced ‘threpny bit’) a sixpence was a ‘tanner’, the two-shilling or florin was ‘two bob’ and the 2/6 coin, or half-crown, was ‘half a dollar’." - Bill

Driving in the late 1960s

"One thing that is lost to the current generation of motorists is how to shift a column-shafted manual gear change which was mounted to the left of the steering wheel with only three main gear shifts plus the reverse gear. The handbrakes were usually a pull twist and release handle lever mounted under the dash – this was my introduction to driving my father’s Vauxhall Victor unlike my driving instructor's Ford Escort, which had a floor-mounted dual control gear shift with the handbrake in the now recognised position. I recall my hourly driving lessons being £1.  According to inflation statistics this amount would be £14.21 now but in fact driving lessons are considerably more expensive than this nowadays. A driving license like this one had to be renewed every three years with different coloured paper slips for licences and renewals. They were handwritten with gummed backing and fixed on top of the old slip, there was no photo ID required in those days." - Bill

Telegrams

"A telegram, sent to my mother the day after I was born." - Sandra

See Bill's full A-Z of Memories here, and contribute your own memories on our Share Your Stories page.