Results 1 to 14 of 14

Thread: What was all this about then ?

  1. #1
    Super Moderator Diamond Geezer's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Posts
    13,884
    Thanks
    2,576
    Thanked 4,128 Times in 2,052 Posts

    What was all this about then ?

    On Facebook there's a tribute page relating to Sir Henry Cecil and there's a short thread regarding some sort of strike by stable lads. I can't for the life of me remember anything about it.

    1st May 1975: Striking stable lads at Newmarket in Suffolk watching horses owned by Henry Cecil being exercised.



    A few remarks follow, but different spelling including

    "Then Dettori Snr won on Bolkonski for Henry"

    "yes but Bollonski would'nt had won if it was'nt for the standing start and the striking stable lads and jocks, Grundy would have won"


    "Didn't they dig a big ditch at the start too?"


    "They tried to drag Willie Carson off his horse then the trainers all ran up the course and chased them away, anarchy in the UK lol"



    Anyone have any memories of the event ?
    "The owls are not what they seem"

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Talbot Green
    Posts
    13,268
    Thanks
    2,133
    Thanked 958 Times in 720 Posts
    Blog Entries
    1
    Yes! Vaguely.

    As I remember it, Carson didn't come out of it too well.
    Ah! but a man's reach should exceed his grasp......

  3. #3
    Senior Member simmo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    South Lanarkshire
    Posts
    5,523
    Thanks
    306
    Thanked 397 Times in 357 Posts
    http://observer.theguardian.com/osm/...482474,00.html

    Interesting to also note that firemen were paid £14 a week at that time.

  4. #4
    Super Moderator Diamond Geezer's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Posts
    13,884
    Thanks
    2,576
    Thanked 4,128 Times in 2,052 Posts
    Thanks Simmo, most interesting.
    "The owls are not what they seem"

  5. #5
    Banned
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    late 1960's early 70's
    Posts
    17,679
    Thanks
    207
    Thanked 610 Times in 393 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by simmo View Post
    http://observer.theguardian.com/osm/...482474,00.html

    Interesting to also note that firemen were paid £14 a week at that time.
    i don't think so Simmo...even in 1972 such as electricians were on 30/35 sheets a week...i worked in an office for 6 months on BR in 72 and my wages then were 10 a week..as a 16 year old

  6. #6
    Senior Member simmo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    South Lanarkshire
    Posts
    5,523
    Thanks
    306
    Thanked 397 Times in 357 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by EC1 View Post
    i don't think so Simmo...even in 1972 such as electricians were on 30/35 sheets a week...i worked in an office for 6 months on BR in 72 and my wages then were 10 a week..as a 16 year old
    only going by what my father says - reckons he started in 1973 on £14 a week.

  7. #7
    Banned
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    late 1960's early 70's
    Posts
    17,679
    Thanks
    207
    Thanked 610 Times in 393 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by simmo View Post
    only going by what my father says - reckons he started in 1973 on £14 a week.
    my wages ..tenner a week...when i started on BR ..were very low..as you would expect at that age..but people over the age of 18 were on a damn sight more than 14 sheets.

    In 1974 an adult labourer on a building site was about 30 quid a week..tradesmen a basic 40-50...with bonuses..60-70

    by 1976 paper lads were on 14 a week

  8. #8
    Senior Member Desert Orchid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    23,660
    Thanks
    2,930
    Thanked 3,483 Times in 2,743 Posts
    When I was starting uni (1973) I remember my father, a Rolls-Royce engineer, putting his salary on my grant application form. I'm pretty sure it was £3000pa, which couldn't have been that much as I was on the full grant. (He was the sole earner with six dependent children, mind.)

    I was a summer relief jannie in the local primary school in those days, earning £98pw tax-free. At the time, I thought about not going to uni and becoming a jannie.

    Does anyone remember what year the army recruitment TV advert with a Lionel Jeffries-type sergeant-major character saying:

    'Ow mooch? A lad like yew? FORTY POUND A WEEEEK??!!
    Last edited by Desert Orchid; 30th October 2013 at 3:11 PM.
    Illegitimi non carborundum


  9. #9
    Senior Member simmo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    South Lanarkshire
    Posts
    5,523
    Thanks
    306
    Thanked 397 Times in 357 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by EC1 View Post
    by 1976 paper lads were on 14 a week
    lol. I only got £6 a week for the longest round in the town I lived in the 80's.

  10. #10
    Senior Member Desert Orchid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    23,660
    Thanks
    2,930
    Thanked 3,483 Times in 2,743 Posts
    Just watched The Ipcress File (1965) in which Harry Palmer was on £1300+expenses as an intelligence agent. £25 a week.
    Illegitimi non carborundum


  11. #11
    Senior Member simmo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    South Lanarkshire
    Posts
    5,523
    Thanks
    306
    Thanked 397 Times in 357 Posts
    Have eventually found some documentation on it. A London fireman was on £28 a week when they went on strike in 1973.

  12. #12
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    4,194
    Thanks
    562
    Thanked 1,222 Times in 620 Posts
    tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito

  13. #13
    Senior Member Desert Orchid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    23,660
    Thanks
    2,930
    Thanked 3,483 Times in 2,743 Posts
    From Jinny's article:
    At the time a local stable lad's average wage was £28 a week (£140 in today's money), scarcely enough for them to buy more than food and the odd pint of beer
    £140pw in 2001, that is, just to be clear. I'd have to question whether that would buy just the odd pint of beer. When I started drinking in 1973, a pint of beer was 12p. By 1975 it would have been 15p-18p.

    What was the weekly state pension in 1975? About £60 at today's levels?
    Illegitimi non carborundum


  14. #14
    Senior Member simmo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    South Lanarkshire
    Posts
    5,523
    Thanks
    306
    Thanked 397 Times in 357 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Desert Orchid View Post
    What was the weekly state pension in 1975? About £60 at today's levels?
    Adjusted to 2009 values - £77 pw - so about £15

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •