This blog post delves into what happened in 1984 in the UK, offering a comprehensive overview of this transformative period. The year 1984 was a pivotal one in the United Kingdom, marked by significant events that shaped the nation’s history.
Contents
Major Events of the Year 1984 in the UK
- Miners’ Strike: One of the most notable events of 1984 in the UK was the miners’ strike. This industrial action, led by the National Union of Mineworkers against the National Coal Board, was a major confrontation between the Thatcher government and the trade unions.
- Brighton Hotel Bombing: The Brighton hotel bombing, carried out by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), was an attempt to assassinate Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet, who were staying at the Grand Hotel for the Conservative Party conference.
- Band Aid: The music industry made a significant contribution to famine relief in Ethiopia through the Band Aid charity single, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” This event marked a high point in popular culture and charity crossover.
- Chesterfield By-election: The Chesterfield by-election was a critical political event, reflecting the political climate of the time. Tony Benn, a prominent figure in the Labour Party, won the seat, signalling a shift in the party’s direction.
- Princess Diana: gives birth to her second child named Henry Charles Albert David.
- Torvill and Dean: entered the record books by getting a perfect score across the board, winning a gold medal for ice skating.
Global Events That Happened In 1984
- Apple’s Macintosh: Apple’s Macintosh computer goes on sale, priced at $2,500.
- Michael Jackson: Michael Jackson was rushed to hospital with second degree burns. He was filming a Pepsi commercial when his hair caught fire from stage pyrotechnics.
- Iraq Chemical Weapons: Iraq is accused of using chemical weapons against Iran. The use of Mustard Gas on Majnoon Island is thought to of caused at least 2,500 casualties.
- Nelson Mandela: Nelson Mandela sees his wife for the first time in 22 years after she is allowed to visit him in prison in South Africa.
- Madras India Bomb: 32 people were killed when a bomb in Madras India airport detonated. The bomb was intended for an Air Lanka flight and was timed to detonate when the plane landed. Due to a mix up at the airport, the bag was not put on the flight and detonated in the wrong country.
- India’s Prime Minister is assassinated: Indira Gandhi the Indian Prime Minister was assassinated by her own bodyguards. Satwant Singh and Beant Singh fired numerous rounds. They were both executed for her murder.
What happened in 1984 in the UK within the Music Industry
One of the biggest bands of the year was Frankie Goes To Hollywood with their debut single ‘Relax’. This single was banned by the BBC as they thought it had sexually suggestive content, despite this the single remained No.1 for five weeks.
Cyndi Lauper started her career with a big bang when she released her debut single ‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’. The song topped the charts the world over. The year ended with the Live Aid charity single ‘Do they Know it’s Christmas’ to help support efforts to counter the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia.
Top hit singles of the year 1984 in no particular order:
- Wham – Wake Me Up Before You GO GO
- Kenny Loggins – Footloose
- Nena – 99 Red Balloons
- Dead Or Alive – You spin Me Around (Like A Record)
- Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Want To Have Fun
- Gloria Estefan – Dr. Beat
- Thompson Twins – Doctor! Doctor!
- Alison Moyet – All Cried Out
- Deniece Williams – Lets Hear It For The Boy
Top UK Album of 1984
Purple Rain by Prince and the Revolution stayed in the charts for twenty-two weeks at number one and sold more than nine million copies.
Thriller by Michael Jackson was the best selling Album between 1983 and 1984. It sold over 70 million copies worldwide.
Top Albums of the year 1984 in no particular order:
- Various Artists – Now 1,2 and 3
- Paul Young – No Parlez
- Michael Jackson – Thriller
- Eurythmics – Touch
- Simple Minds – Sparkle In The Rain
- Thompson Twins – Into The Gap
- Lionel Richie – Can’t Slow Down
- Bob Marley and The Wailers – Legend
- David Bowie – Tonight
- U2 – The Unforgetable Fire
Top UK Movie News of 1984
Ghostbusters a supernatural comedy written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. Aykroyd and Ramis also starred in the movie along side Bill Murray and Sigourney Weaver. The movie is about three eccentric parapsychologists who have their grant taken away from them and start a ghost-catching business in New York.
Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom an action adventure directed by Steven Spielberg. This is the 2nd installment of the Indiana Jones series. Indiana played by Harrison Ford is asked by desperate villagers to find a mystical stone and to rescue their children from a Thuggee cult.
Beverly Hills Cop a cop action comedy starring Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold and John Ashton. The fil was directed by Martin Brest. Eddie plays Axel Foley a detective from Detroit who visits Beverly Hills, California to solve the murder of his best friend.
Box Office Hits released in the year 1984
- Gremlins
- The Terminator
- Police Academy
- Romancing The Stone
- Footloose
- Splash
- The Karate Kid
Science & Technology of 1984 in the UK
- Sony launched the first compact disc player, the D-50 known as Discman – used until the early 90s’.
- Danish physiologist Steen Willadsen successfully for the first time used cells from early embryos to clone a sheep. By using nuclear transfer at the British Agricultural Research Council’s Institute of Animal Physiology, Cambridge.
- Apple Computer places the Macintosh Personal Computer on sale in the USA. It will be the first successful P.C to use graphical user interface.
What Happened in UK Sport in 1984
It was a good year for sports fans with a diverse range of sporting titles achieved by UK athletes.
- Torvill and Dean getting a perfect score in figure skating and entering the record books.
- Daley Thompson of Great Britain scores 8,797 points to win the Olympic decathlon in Los Angeles. (World Record)
- Sebastian Coe defends his title in the 1,500m race.
- Wimbledon ‘Women’s Tennis, Martina Navratilova beats Chris Evert 7-6, 6-2 for her 26th Grand Slam title.
- Englishman Geoff Smith wins the men’s event in the 88th Boston Marathon.
- Liverpool beats Roma (1-1) 4-2 on penalties in Rome at the 28th European Cup.
- Scotland beats France, 21-12 at Murrayfield to win the Five Nations Rugby Championship.
UK Television of the Year 1984
Surprise, Surprise Hosted by Cilla Black. A light entertainment show filmed in front of a studio audience. It involved surprising members of the public with their wishes, reuniting with long lost loved ones and making some dreams come true.
Spitting Image a British satirical television puppet show, created by Peter Fluck, Roger Law and Martin Lambie-Nairn. A series that was nominated and won numerous awards. It featured puppet caricatures of celebrities and public figures.
The Bill started from a one-off drama called Woodentop. The Bill debut on the 16/10/1984 and ran until 31/08/2010, making it the longest running Police drama.
Bob’s Full House A game show hosted by Bob Monkhouse made it’s debut.
Interesting Facts and Figures about 1984
Best Video Games of 1984
- Jet Set willy
- Fighter Pilot
- Manic Miner
- Atic Atac
Symbol of 1994 Chinese Zodiac
1984 was the year of the Rat. Those born in this year were thought to have personal charm and to be hard working. They like to feel safe in life.
Births, Deaths, and Marriages in 1984
Births
- Prince Harry – is a member of the British royal family. He is the younger son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales.
- Mark Zukerberg – is an American businessman and philanthropist. He is the CEO of social media service Facebook.
- Kelly Osbourn – is an English television personality, singer, actress, model, and fashion designer. The daughter of Ozzy and Sharon.
- Katy Perry – is an American singer, songwriter and television personality.
- Freida Pinto – is an Indian actress who has appeared mainly in American and British films
Deaths
- Diana Dors – An English Actress and television personality. She was known as a blonde bombshell. Diana died of Ovarian Cancer.
- Marvin Gaye – An American Singer/songwriter who was shot by his own father, when Marvin intervened in an argument between his parents.
- Eric Morecambe – An English Comedian. Part of the long running comedy duo Morecambe and Wise. Eric died from his 3rd heart attack.
- Tommy Cooper – a Welsh prop comedian well known for his failed magic tricks. Tommy died whilst he was live on stage from a heart attack.
Marriages
- Sigourney Weaver marries Jim Simpson
- Bette Midler marries Martin Von Haselberg
- Jamie Lee Curtis marries Christopher Guest
- Paul Nicholas marries Linzi Beuselinck
- Lynda Carter marries Robert Altman
- Beau Bridges marries Wendy Treece
Anniversaries in 1984
Wedding Anniversaries
- Ruby Anniversary of Charlton Heston and Lydia Clarke (17th March 1944)
- Pearl Anniversary of Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara (14th September 1954)
- Pearl Anniversary of Larry Hagman and Maj Axelsson (18th December 1954)
- Tin Anniversary of Patrick Duffy and Carlyn Rosser (1974)
Other Anniversaries
- 100th Anniversary – The first volume of the Oxford English Dictionary was published ( 1st February 1884)
- 70th Anniversary – All Suffragette prisoners were released unconditionally (10th August 1914)
- 50th Anniversary – British Empire Games opened in London (4th August 1934)
- 40th Anniversary – PAYE (pay as you earn) tax collection was introduced (10th February 1944)
- 20th Anniversary – The first Portable Television went on sale (4th August 1964)
UK Fashion of the year 1984
The bigger the better was considered to be the height of fashion in the 80s. Even hair was puffed up to make it look bigger.
Women dressed as men and men wore make up, jewellery and some wore frilly tops.
Oversized blazers and faded jeans with baggy T-shirts were well liked. Rara skirts and cropped tops or blouses with puffed up sleeves in neon colours and bomber jackets were all the in thing in the eighties. Wham popularised the Choose Life Tee Shirt, sales rocketed after their appearance on Top of the Pops in 1984.
FAQs About 1984 in the UK
- What was the Miners’ Strike of 1984 about?
- The strike was primarily about the closure of coal mines, which was part of the government’s policy to reduce the coal industry.
- How did the Brighton Hotel Bombing impact UK politics?
- It heightened tensions in Northern Ireland and brought attention to the IRA’s campaign.
- What was Band Aid’s role in 1984?
- Band Aid raised significant funds for famine relief in Ethiopia through a charity single.
- Who was Tony Benn, and why was his election significant?
- Tony Benn was a leading figure in the Labour Party, and his election signified a leftward shift in the party.
- How did the events of 1984 impact British culture?
- These events, particularly in music and politics, had a lasting impact on British culture and society.
Comparing the Cost of Living in the UK: 1984 vs. Today
In 1984, the UK’s economy was characterized by a move towards deregulation and privatization under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The average household income was lower compared to today, but so were living expenses. Goods and services, including housing, were generally more affordable for the average earner.
Fast forward to today, the UK faces different economic challenges. While average incomes have risen, so have the costs of essential goods and services. Housing, in particular, has seen a dramatic increase in costs, outpacing the growth in wages for many.
Comparison Table: Consumer Products Then and Now
| Item | Price in 1984 | Price Today | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaf of Bread | £0.37 | £1.20 | Staple food item, indicative of basic food costs. |
| Pint of Milk | £0.20 | £0.90 | Essential dairy product. |
| Dozen Eggs | £0.73 | £2.50 | Basic cooking ingredient. |
| 1kg of Apples | £0.68 | £2.00 | Fresh fruit, health staple. |
| 1 Litre of Petrol | £0.35 | £1.30 | Reflects transportation costs. |
| Average House Price | £29,000 | £230,000 | Indicator of housing market and affordability. |
| Average Annual Salary | £7,000 | £30,000 | Reflects average earning capacity. |
Note: Prices are approximate and can vary by region.
Analysis
- Food and Essentials: While prices have increased in absolute terms, they remain relatively affordable when compared to average incomes.
- Housing: The dramatic rise in housing prices far outpaces the growth in average salaries, reflecting a more significant challenge for home ownership today than in 1984.
- Wages vs. Inflation: Despite higher wages, the rate of inflation and the rising cost of living have impacted purchasing power.
Gift Ideas specifically related to 1984
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40th Anniversary Card with Original Hit Music of 1984. A Time to Remember, The Classic Years.£7.95 -
1984 The Story of Your Year 40th Anniversary Booklet CD and Music Download£9.95
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Combined CD & DVD Greeting Card Gift Set – 1984£15.95
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DVD Greeting Card, The Time of your Life -1984£9.95
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Personalised 1980s Music Quiz Book£34.95
Final Thoughts about what happened in 1984 in the UK
The comparison reveals a significant change in the cost of living in the UK from 1984 to today. While some basic items remain relatively affordable, major expenses like housing have increased disproportionately, presenting new challenges for the average UK resident. Understanding these changes is crucial for economic planning and personal finance management.
1984 was a year of conflict and change in the UK, with lasting impacts on its political, social, and cultural landscape. From the miners’ strike to the Brighton hotel bombing, these events not only shaped the year but also the decades that followed.
References
- Wikipedia – 1984 in the United Kingdom
- You Tube – 80s UK tv adverts from 1984-1985
- On This Day (American-centric perspective) – Deaths in 1984, Births in 1984, Wedding in 1984
- Office of National Statistics – Inflation and Prices, People in Work, Households
- Official Top 40 Charts UK
- 1984 The Story of Your Year 40th Anniversary Booklet
