Summer '76
Will there ever be another summer like that of 1976? Maybe this one!
In '76, the temperature regularly exceeded 30°C widely across England. Southampton saw 35.6°C in as early as June 23rd; and the highest temperature overall was 35.9°C - reached on July 3rd in Cheltenham.
The obstinate summer brought its challenges too – notably the drought, with suited water board executives in striped nylon shirts strutting across their parched reservoirs explaining just how bad things were. As standpipes were dragged from Morris Marina vans – women in headscarves queued with buckets to take away a drop of the precious stuff – and we were urged to bath with a friend. We didn’t shower much back then. Mind you, we didn’t take too many baths either.
Then there were the huge numbers of seven spotted-ladybirds – biting us and attacking our ice creams. A warm spring left many in the family way with their offspring then left foodless as plants dried up, diminishing the necessary aphids. So off the hungry mites swarmed in their millions to besiege towns and villages in search of dinner. The coastal resorts bore the brunt - when the poor things realised there was nowhere else to go.
But that relentless season has gone down in history as a societal landmark – of ‘how we used to do summer’. The reddening bodies of our generation – and the one before ours – languishing in wobbly deck chairs, sheltering under a broadsheet newspaper and even, yes, a genuine knotted hankie. Lots of nice oil splashed onto our skin to make absolutely sure we burned.
For children, it was just freedom - unless exams loomed in a stuffy school hall. Long days, no rain to keep them in. Just out, skidding along the molten pavements on a Chopper bike in plastic sandals. What’s not to like. Splashing in a back garden makeshift pool until the ice cream man arrived – for these were days when your freezer was barely large enough to cool a few ice cubes and two Tip Top lollies.
And then – if you could afford it – a nice bottle of fizzy pop from the Alpine man – or your supplier of choice. Because back then, anyone seen walking about clutching a water bottle would have been seen as very odd.
Meanwhile, The Stones, 10cc, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Todd Rundgren played a legendary Knebworth Festival and John Peel introduced Quo, the Strawbs and Hawkind at Cardiff Castle.
Then – as we always tell anyone who will listen – it all seemed to end just as Nationwide giddily reported the appointment of a Minister for Drought.
On Friday July 3rd here on Boom, we're seizing the excuse of the anniversary of that summer's hottest day to mark 50 years since the summer of ’76 – and we hope you can join us.
We’ll be scattering in songs from those sweltering months - playing warped vinyl from Elton and Kiki to Candi Staton, the Real Thing, Wings and Tavares accompanied by your memories; and the great John Kettley will pop in with a few meteorological titbits.
Drop us a line now to 1976@boomradio.co.uk and share all you remember from that stifling time – where were you and what were you up to?
You can record a voice message instead if you wish – and we may broadcast it. Just send it to the same email address. We’d love to hear from you.
Remembering Summer 76 - supported by Pattinson's Jelly Drops
Good health starts with good hydration
