Looking back 1967 was an awe-inspiring year. Here are some historical facts you may have forgotten (or occurred before you were born!). They may also be useful trivia for folk who like pub quizzes perhaps? We hope you find them interesting. If you want to know more of the stories behind the headlines I’m sure Google or your alternative favourite search engine will help. Failing that a trip to the local library will be enlightening.
Major headlines
The Sinai 6-day war was won by the Israelis
China explodes its first hydrogen bomb
First human heart transplant operation
British Steel was nationalised
The British National Party was founded
North Sea Gas was piped into the UK
The United Kingdom applied to join the EEC.
Winifred Ewing was elected as the first Scottish Nationalist MP
The Pound was devalued from $2.80 to $2.40 (Is the pound in your pocket is still worth £1 you may well ask?)
British Troops left Aden which then became the Republic of Yemen
The Torrey Canyon oil tanker ran aground off Lands End causing a major ecological disaster
Other items which made the news
Bank Holiday Changes
Whitsun holiday became a fixed Spring Bank Holiday on the last Monday in May
August bank holiday moved from the first to the last Monday in August (England and Wales)
Technology
BBC2 transmitted the first Colour TV programme. It was Wimbledon! (Champions John Newcombe and Billie Jean King in case you were going to ask!)
BBC radio was reorganized into Radios 1,2,3 and 4 and BBC Radio Leicester was the first local BBC radio station.
Off shore pirate radio stations were closed down.
The QE2 was launched and the Queen Mary made her last trans-Atlantic crossing to Southampton.
Concorde was unveiled and Boeing 737 made its maiden flight
Ford replaced the Anglia with the Escort
Texas Instruments launched the first pocket calculator
Barclays Bank installed the first ATM in the UK
Media
Sandy Shaw won the Eurovision Song Contest with “Puppet on a String”
Twiggy, (the model) and miniskirts became popular.
Otis Reading died in a plane crash aged 26
The Beatles launched the iconic “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album. Their manager Brian Epstein died. In contrast the Rolling Stones got stoned and were in and out of court on drugs charges!
The Radio 4 programme “Just a Minute” chaired by Nicholas Parsons was first broadcast
Sport
The Grand National was won by 100-1 outsider Foinavon
Manchester United won the League Title
Donald Campbell died
Evel Knievel jumped his motorcycle over 16 cars lined up in a row, but failed in his attempt to jump the fountains at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas
Sir Francis Chichester sailed solo around the world arriving in Plymouth after 9 months and 1 day
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