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May 5, 2026
  • 1986 – 40 years ago in Britain
  • Iran on the eve of the 1979 revolution
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  • School summer holidays in the 1970s

The 70s 80s 90s Blog

Three Decades of History with TV historian Tony McMahon

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  • 1986 Britain

    1986 – 40 years ago in Britain

    4 months ago3 months ago
  • shah of iran

    Iran on the eve of the 1979 revolution

    4 months ago4 months ago
  • Drought 1976

    1976 – 50 years ago in Britain

    4 months ago4 months ago
  • 1975 summer holiday

    School summer holidays in the 1970s

    5 months ago3 months ago
  • Zoomer Boomer office culture

    Zoomers challenge Boomer office culture

    5 months ago3 months ago
  • hijacker

    Plane hijacked by samurai wielding terrorists

    6 months ago3 months ago
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  • Belfast

Belfast

  • 1970s
  • Politics

Firefighters let house burn down

The 70s 80s 90s Blog1 year ago1 year ago05 mins

Imagine a beautiful old house burning down and the fire brigade turns up. The firefighters ask if there’s anybody inside. The answer is – no. The firefighters climb back into their fire engine and drive off leaving the fire to rage through the entire property reducing it to a smoking ruin. Thousands of pounds worth…

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Irish skinheads
  • Culture

Irish skinheads, rude boys and punks

The 70s 80s 90s Blog5 years ago5 years ago22 mins

1980 was a the high point for the whole late 1970s revival of skinheads and there were Irish boot boys and girls around too

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  • 1981 riots
  • Music

The Specials in Northern Ireland

The 70s 80s 90s Blog13 years ago6 years ago43 mins

In early 1981 The Specials and The Beat were set to play gigs in Northern Ireland to raise money for deprived children in Ulster

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  • Politics

Northern Ireland Troubles in 1980

The 70s 80s 90s Blog13 years ago8 years ago01 mins

Northern Ireland Troubles in 1980

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July 1981
  • Odds and sods

July 1981: when Britain went a bit mad

The 70s 80s 90s Blog15 years ago6 years ago03 mins

July 1981 was a month of riots in Britain but it was also a time when the country seemed to go a little mad with some very unusual incidents

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Buy Original Rude Boy – biography of Neville Staple, The Specials

Boxing and racism in the 80s

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Tony McMahon – your blogger – circa 1982

TV historian Tony McMahon journeys through the politics, culture, and history of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s

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