Look Back To 1946: What Happened That Year

Television came back, bread went on the ration and the family allowance started.

Here's 1946 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 1946

• 'The Gypsy' and 'Bless You (For Being an Angel)' were among the year's popular songs.
• Dance bands were still the mainstream, with big bands touring constantly.
• Housewives' Choice and Family Favourites became fixtures on the wireless.

In the news in 1946

• Bread rationing was introduced in July, for the first time.
• Family allowance payments began in August.
• The New Towns Act was passed, creating Stevenage and the others.
• The National Insurance Act laid the ground for the welfare state.

On screen in 1946

• BBC television returned on 7 June, London only.
• Great Expectations and A Matter of Life and Death were released.
• The Cannes Film Festival was held for the first time.

In sport in 1946

• League football resumed for the 1946-47 season.
• The Burnden Park disaster at Bolton in March killed 33 people.
• Test cricket resumed with England touring Australia over the winter.

Everyday life in 1946

• Prefabs were put up in large numbers to deal with the housing shortage.
• Demobbed men came home to shortages and queues.
• Utility furniture was still the only furniture most people could buy.

If you were born in 1946

• Anyone born in 1946 was born at the start of the baby boom.
• They are the same age as the return of BBC television.
• Anyone born in 1946 turns 30 in 1976, 40 in 1986, 50 in 1996, 60 in 2006 and 70 in 2016.
• 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 1949
• Look back to 1948
• Look back to 1947
• Look back to 1945
• Look back to 1944
• Look back to 1943
• The 1940s: the whole decade
• Wartime and 1950s party games
• Traditional British party games
• Pen and paper games
• Card games your nan taught you
• The 2020s so far
• The 2010s: the whole decade
• The 2000s: the whole decade
• The 1990s: the whole decade
• The 1980s: the whole decade
• The 1970s: the whole decade
• The 1960s: the whole decade
• The 1950s: the whole decade
• The 1930s: the whole decade
• The 1920s: the whole decade
• Decade calendar: every year from 1920
• Decade trivia: fun facts by era
• Decade trivia game: play for points
• Decade guides: books, films and TV by era
• Decade recipes: dishes and food trends by era
• Decade travel: destinations and holidays by era
• Decade tech: gadgets and computers by era
• Decade films: best movies and directors by era
• Decade art: artists, styles and trends by era
• Decade books: best novels, authors and reading trends
• Music by decade: albums, artists and songs
• Decade fashion: clothes, hair and accessories by era
• Nostalgia gift shop
• Retro party supplies
• Nostalgia birthday party by decade
• Nostalgia hamper and gift ideas
• Guess the year quiz
• Care home reminiscence quiz
• Reminiscence gifts for grandparents
• Milestone birthday cards
• Shop birthday cards
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

When did BBC television return after the war?

7 June 1946, having closed on 1 September 1939.

Why was bread rationed in 1946?

Global grain shortages after the war meant bread, which had never been rationed during the conflict, was rationed from July 1946 until 1948.

How old is someone born in 1946?

Subtract 1946 from the current year. They turn 40 in 1986, 50 in 1996, 60 in 2006 and 70 in 2016.

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.