Ray’s Rants Life in the 1950s 1960s 1970s Great Britain girls England family UK work school British music night clubs pubs fashion pirate radio Caroline English holidays television

Midweek Message 171.

Welcome to another Midweek Message. Daft adverts, The Mysterons, the weather, post codes, zones and lots more stuff!

Further Education, Technical College, Adult Classes in the 1960s

Back in the 60s, many people who had left school were keen to go back to college to learn a trade. Women wanted to learn secretarial skills such as typing and shorthand. Men could learn bricklaying, car mechanics or many other trades. It was a great way to become qualified. Please, join me this Sunday.

Midweek Message 170.

The weather outside is frightful, but the fire is quite delightful... That's a Christmas song, and you'd think it was winter here. Rain, wind, cold... Stone the crows! No point in moaning about it, but I will!

Trip to Pulborough Brooks.

In this episode, Tricia and I visit the RSPB reserve at Pulborough in West Sussex. Visit their website here. Also, what were pubs like back in the 1960s? Were they just boozers? Or, were they an integral part of the community? Plus, remembering the old record shops, hiding money beneath the mattress... Please, join me this Sunday.

Midweek Message 169.

Do you remember recording music from Pick of the Pops on a Sunday evening? The old reel to reel tape recorder whirling away, recording your favourite tracks. More on nicknames, gardens, the doctor... and more!

The Great Storm of 1987 plus What's In A Name?

Do you remember the great storm of 1987 here in the UK? What a shock it was! The National Grid sustained heavy damage, leaving thousands without power. It was astonishing that the weather reports failed to predict a storm of such magnitude.

Old names, new names, double-barrelled names—how many Christian names do you have? Are you known by your first name or your middle name? Do you have a nickname? Join me this Sunday as we explore the fascinating evolution of names over the centuries.

Midweek Message 168.

This Sunday, I'll be chatting about people's names. Old names, new names, double-barrelled names… How many Christian names do you have? Also, I'll be recalling the events during the storm of 1987 here in Britain. Please, join me.

Things We No Longer Have Or See In The UK.

Who remembers the iconic Hoovermatic Twintub washing machine? A staple in British homes during the 1960s, it was incredibly popular. And what about the Rolls Dishwasher that perched on the kitchen draining board? Join us this Sunday as we take a nostalgic journey through household and other items of the past that have since disappeared! Also, I’m chatting from Amberley Museum.

 

Midweek Message 167.

Who remembers the iconic Hoovermatic Twintub washing machine? A staple in British homes during the 1960s, it was incredibly popular. And what about the Rolls Dishwasher that perched on the kitchen draining board? Join us this Sunday as we take a nostalgic journey through household and othetr items of the past that have since disappeared!

Traditional English Food, Pubs, Shops...

What is traditional English food? Dishes like bubble and squeak, meat and two veg, toad in the hole, shepherd's pie and fish and chips come to mind. In this episode, Tricia chats about classic English meals, going all the way back to World War II. Not that we were around back then! Also in this episode, people opening their houses as shops in the old days. There were corner shops, of course, but also mid-terrace houses where people had converted their lounge into a shop. Join us this Sunday!

Midweek Message 166.

Hi, I hope you're well. Traditional English meals, school dinners, chip shops, transistor radios back in the 1960s... Join me for a good old chat.

School Holidays and other stuff.

Remember the joy of school holidays in the old days? Six glorious weeks of summer freedom! Imagine if we had mobile phones back in the 50s and 60s. How would we have reacted to social media? The days before computers, what did the banks do? What did the tax office do? Everything was written is huge books called ledgers. Imagine the work! Join me this Sunday as we take a nostalgic journey back to those golden, and sometimes not so golden, days.

Ray's Roaming Rants - St Mary's Church, Sompting.

This Roaming Rant took me to St Mary's Church, Sompting, West Sussex. Built in the 11th or 12th century, the church is one of only a few on Britain with a Saxon tower. Please, join me for a look around the church.

Midweek Message 165.

I've been to church! More on that later. Also, I have a sore throat, we had great weather on Sunday... Why address letters to, for example, Mrs Fred Smith? Is she a man? That's her husband's name, not hers! That was the way things were in the old days. Does that still happen?

Live Your Life. Children in Pubs. Miserable People and more.

Live Your Life! Live and let live. In other words, let people get on with their lives and you get on with your life. Don't interfere with or poke your nose into other people's business. Punishing children. What are your thoughts on spanking kids? Also, kids in pubs. Should children be allowed into pubs? Please, join me this Sunday for a good old moan... I mean, chat.