History of WACL - 1970s

Key Events

• The Three Day Week
• Decimal currency introduced
• 'Streaking' became popular
• A Clockwork Orange premiered
• Capital Radio and LBC became the first commercial radio stations
• Fry's 5 Boys chocolate 'retired'

The chaos that affected daily life during the era of industrial unrest at the beginning of the 1970s affected all parts of everyday life.

For example, January 1974, saw Club minutes stating that the planned annual Ball might need to be postponed "in view of the grave national emergency" - but happily, it did go ahead in May, and the minutes recorded that The Savoy's invoice was for £2206.15!

But, "in spite of the three day working week, threatened electricity cuts, and a shortage of petrol and transport" (Vice President's cocktail party) WACL managed to retain a sense of contemporary style, offering to all guests at its 50th anniversary luncheon, a "Perspex Paperweight".

Further reading