Now That's What I Call ... – serie

The sixties, seventies and eighties were decades of great 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 changes 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 leading to new road schemes.These changes in people’s habits and lifestyles were keenly felt in Bournemouth on the south coast of England. As the town grew in size, the traditional seaside resort also became a conference centre. Areas of the town and landmarks were redeveloped, sometimes controversially, and the town’s service and financial industries expanded alongside the wide range of cultural activities on offer. Local author John Needham recaptures it all in this fascinating portrayal of the town and its people over the course of these most nostalgic decades.

The sixties, seventies and eighties were decades of great 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 changes 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 leading to new road schemes.These changes in people's habits and lifestyles were keenly felt in Dunfermline as the town grew in size. Traditional industries such as linen and coal-mining declined and new industries moved in, and new retail centres built. Author Walter Burt recaptures it all in this fascinating portrayal of the town and its people over the course of these most nostalgic decades.

The 1960s, 1970s and 1980s were decades of great 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 changes 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 Scotland’s capital as the city grew in size. Old and dilapidated housing was demolished, to be replaced by new housing estates; other areas were redeveloped and new shopping centres were built, universities were expanding and many long-established pastimes and activities, cultural centres and places of leisure were evolving. Local author Jack Gillon recaptures it all in this fascinating portrayal of the city and its people over the course of these most nostalgic decades.

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.

If you were lucky enough to be in Cirencester during the nineteen-sixties, seventies, or eighties, time moved a little differently here. The buses were slower, the corner shops always seemed to smell faintly of newspapers and barley sugar, the Wilts & Glos Standard was your go-to for everything from council news to jumble sales and a trip to the outdoor pool felt like a holiday abroadThis light-hearted look back is a celebration of that slower, sweeter time. The market town of Cirencester has grown today but it still holds memories of those past decades, from the clatter of hooves at the Royal Agricultural College to the smell of fresh bread wafting from Topps’ bakery, the echoes of children playing in Abbey Grounds, the hum of chatter at the Corn Hall market, and the unmistakable jingle of the ice cream van making its rounds. This lovingly compiled scrapbook of memories, mischief, and moments that made Cirencester the heart of the Cotswolds will appeal to all those who know Cirencester.