Look Back To 1934: What Happened That Year

Driving tests announced, Belisha beacons and the Queen Mary being built.

Here's 1934 in full - the music, the news, the screen, the sport and the ordinary details. Good for a birthday card, a party quiz round or a reminiscence session.

Popular music in 1934

• 'Blue Moon' and 'Anything Goes' were written this year.
• Henry Hall's 'Teddy Bears' Picnic' recording became a lasting favourite.
• Radio Luxembourg began broadcasting to Britain in English, with commercials the BBC would not carry.

In the news in 1934

• The Road Traffic Act introduced a 30mph limit in built-up areas and compulsory driving tests from 1935.
• Belisha beacons appeared at pedestrian crossings.
• The Gresford colliery disaster in September killed 266 men.
• The Queen Mary was launched at Clydebank.

On screen in 1934

• The Man Who Knew Too Much and It Happened One Night were released.
• Cinema-going peaked at close to twenty million admissions a week later in the decade.
• Television experiments continued at Alexandra Palace.

In sport in 1934

• England won the Ashes at home.
• Arsenal won the league again.
• Manchester City won the FA Cup.

Everyday life in 1934

• Car ownership was growing fast and road deaths were high.
• The first Butlin's was still two years away but holiday camps were being planned.
• Hire purchase put radios, furniture and cars within reach of more households.

If you were born in 1934

• Anyone born in 1934 was five when the war started.
• They have never known roads without a 30mph limit in towns.
• Anyone born in 1934 turns 30 in 1964, 40 in 1974, 50 in 1984, 60 in 1994 and 70 in 2004.
• For a milestone card, the strongest line is usually the number one from the week they were born rather than the year's biggest events - it's personal, and it takes two minutes to find.
• For a reminiscence session, read one section at a time and stop on whatever gets a reaction. The point is the conversation, not the facts.

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How to write it so it lands

• The number one from the week they were born beats the year's headlines on a card.
• Read one section at a time in a reminiscence session and stop where the conversation starts.
• Use it as a guess-the-year round by reading three facts and hiding the date.

Where to shop next

• Look back to 1937
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• Decade trivia game: play for points
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Frequently asked questions

When did driving tests start in Britain?

Compulsory driving tests were introduced by the Road Traffic Act 1934 and began in 1935.

What are Belisha beacons?

The orange globes on black and white poles at pedestrian crossings, introduced in 1934 and named after Transport Minister Leslie Hore-Belisha.

How old is someone born in 1934?

Subtract 1934 from the current year. They turn 40 in 1974, 50 in 1984, 60 in 1994 and 70 in 2004.

Do you sell anything to do with this year?

We make greeting cards, art prints and pin badges in the UK, including milestone birthday cards. This page itself is free to read and free to copy.