In the news1954
Food rationing ends in 1954
Food rationing, which began during World War II, finally ended in 1954.
Born Sep 1950
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Sep 1950
Born
22 Jun 1978
A son is born
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In the news1954
Food rationing, which began during World War II, finally ended in 1954.
What people wore
Everyday wear and voluminous party skirts
Women wore floral pinafores as everyday house wear and favoured full-skirted dresses with stiffened petticoats for special occasions. These skirts were sometimes so voluminous that they made it difficult for women to pass through doorways.
Daily life
National school system and gendered subjects
The 1944 Education Act created a national school system, including the Eleven Plus exam which determined secondary school placement. In secondary schools, boys often learned woodwork and metalwork, while girls were taught home economics and needlework.
In the news1958
Britain opened its first motorway, the Preston bypass, in 1958.
Music
DIY Skiffle Craze of the 1950s
In the late 1950s, an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 amateur skiffle groups performed in youth clubs, church halls, pubs, and school halls using cheap or homemade instruments like washboards and tea chest basses. This democratic, do-it-yourself music movement made performing accessible to young people who lacked the resources for traditional instruments.
In Europe1957
Six countries signed the Treaty of Rome, the start of what became the European Union.
Getting around
Work commute times remained stable
The average time for a work commute in Britain remained remarkably stable, averaging roughly 33 to 34 minutes during the 1950s and 1960s.