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April 4, 2026
  • 1986 – 40 years ago in Britain
  • Iran on the eve of the 1979 revolution
  • 1976 – 50 years ago in Britain
  • 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

    3 months ago2 months ago
  • shah of iran

    Iran on the eve of the 1979 revolution

    3 months ago3 months ago
  • Drought 1976

    1976 – 50 years ago in Britain

    3 months ago3 months ago
  • 1975 summer holiday

    School summer holidays in the 1970s

    4 months ago2 months ago
  • Zoomer Boomer office culture

    Zoomers challenge Boomer office culture

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  • hijacker

    Plane hijacked by samurai wielding terrorists

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Callaghan Scotland
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SNP topples Labour PM Callaghan in 1979

The 70s 80s 90s Blog13 years ago4 years ago08 mins

In 1979, SNP MPs toppled the Labour government of James Callaghan opening the door to over a decade of Margaret Thatcher as Tony McMahon discovers

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  • Politics

Short sharp shock – Thatcher’s regime for wayward youth

The 70s 80s 90s Blog13 years ago6 years ago516 mins

Short Sharp Shock was a prison regime introduced by the Conservative government in the early 1980s for young people that was brutal and didn’t work

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Ron Brown Margaret Thatcher
  • Politics

When Red Ron met Maggie Thatcher

The 70s 80s 90s Blog13 years ago4 years ago14 mins

Scottish Labour MP Ron Brown confronted Margaret Thatcher during a visit to Scotland in 1982 as Tony McMahon discovers

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  • Politics

Jobs Express led to jobs creation!

The 70s 80s 90s Blog14 years ago6 years ago93 mins

The Jobs Express took hundreds of young unemployed people around Britain in 1981 and some companies along the way offered jobs

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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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