The way we were in 1971: Sunbathing at Tynemouth, T Rex at number one, and 16p a pint

If we’ve had more than our fair share of rain and cloud this month, folk back in 1971 had no such problem. For most of England and Wales, it would prove to be the warmest and driest July for years.

Our main photograph, taken on the 21st of that month, shows bathers relaxing on the sun-drenched beach at Tynemouth, while our modern photograph captures the same location in recent times on a much quieter day. But away from a trip to the sweltering seaside, what was happening in the world 53 years ago? We’ve delved into the archives to recall what was in the news, on television, in the pop charts, and much more in 1971.

Those who picked up their Evening Chronicle on Wednesday, July 21, would read about people who’d been tricked out of money by a con man selling fake holidays in Devon; a local shortage of cigarettes, including Woodbine and Embassy Regal, caused by 30 mechanics being suspended at the Wills factory in Newcastle; and Gosforth man George Leadbitter, an electrician, who scooped a £34,000 win on the football pools - an amount equating to a whopping £420,000 in today’s money.

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It was a time when the average weekly full-time UK wage for a male manual worker was £28, and for a woman, £14 .Taking inflation into account, the purchasing power of £100 in 1971 was equal to around £1,450 in 2024. The prices of 53 years ago reflected this.

A pint of beer would cost you 16p, 20 cigarettes (at a time when around half the adult population smoked) were 27p, and a bottle of whisky was £2.50. For drivers, a Ford Cortina would knock you back £968, while a gallon of petrol was 34p. The average UK house price was £5,000, and if you rented a council property, you would pay around £5 a week.

A daily newspaper such as the Evening Chronicle or the Daily Mirror would cost you 3p, LP records were on sale from 80p to £1.25, a made-to-measure suit from Burton was £28, and a woman’s dress from C&A was around £3.50.

Consumer durables such as newfangled colour televisions and cassette recorders, as well as ‘white goods’ such as washing machines and fridges were relatively expensive in 1971, but foodstuffs were cheaper than today, certainly in terms of price, but also in real terms. On a trip to the corner shop or local supermarket, you would pay 5p for a pint of milk, 10p for a loaf of bread, 6p for a can of Coca-Cola, 3p for a packet of crisps, 25p for a dozen eggs, and 20p for a Vesta Curry and rice for two.

In February 1971, decimalisation was introduced in the UK. There was confusion for many as the age-old pennies, shillings and pounds system was replaced by a currency based on units of 10. In other news, football delivered tragedy when 66 fans were crushed to death at Ibrox stadium in Glasgow after a match between Rangers and Celtic, and there was bloodshed in Ulster as ‘the Troubles’ escalated.

Away from the sometimes gloomy headlines, there was still fun to be had. In this week’s UK singles chart 53 years ago, there were hits for T Rex who were at number one with Get It On, Middle Of The Road with Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep, and The New Seekers with Never Ending Song Of Love. Another flick through the Chronicle from Wednesday July 21, tells us what was on at local cinemas. At Newcastle Odeon on Pilgrim Street, you could see Carry On Henry, the ABC at the Haymarket was showing The Dirty Dozen, while at the Stoll on Westgate Road, the main offering was an X-rated film called Ordered To Love.

For those planning a night in front of the television, at a time when there were just three channels to choose from, that evening’s highlights included Mission Impossible on BBC1, Man Alive on BBC2, and University Challenge on Tyne Tees. Newcastle’s early-’70s after-dark scene was lively, with the Chronicle advertising the chart group Vanity Fare (who’d enjoyed a UK top-20 hit with Hitchin’ A Ride) enjoying a week-long residency at La Dolce Vita nightclub on Low Friar Street, comedian Dustin Gee at the Stage Door on Stowell Street, and an entertainer called Garry Roberts at the Tatler in the Haymarket.

And finally, at St James’ Park, the summer would see the arrival of three major signings at Newcastle United who would give the team an exciting new dynamic, midfielders Terry Hibbitt and Tony Green from Leeds United and Blackpool respectively, and a 21-year-old centre-forward from Luton Town, Malcolm Macdonald, who would score 30 goals in his first season at the club, and go on to earn hero status on Tyneside.

And that was just some of what was going on in 1971…