Now That's What I Call Plymouth

The 1960s, 1970s and 1980s were decades of significant change. Many towns and cities were redeveloped with projects that dramatically affected the character of the place. People’s shopping habits were altered as supermarkets took over from traditional stores and corner shops. Leisure habits were changing too, as cheap air travel led to the arrival of the foreign package holiday and a new range of leisure facilities were developed at home. Fashions, as ever, were changing in this period, reflecting radical shifts in society and the ways in which we viewed ourselves. Transport also evolved, with a move away from the railway and buses, creating a strain on the roads and leading to new road schemes.

These changes in people’s habits and lifestyles were keenly felt in Plymouth on the Devon coast. The historic Royal Navy base and commercial port have remained open, but the city has changed markedly over the years. Reconstruction of the centre followed the devastation of the Second World War, and in a massive rebuilding programme of housing the city’s boundaries were extended to absorb nearby settlements in the 1960s. The transport network was transformed and redevelopment of Plymouth’s sporting and leisure centres continued through this period. Local author Derek Tait recaptures it all in this fascinating portrayal of the city and its people over the course of these most nostalgic decades.