Look Back To 1947: What Happened That Year

The worst winter in memory, a royal wedding and Indian independence.

Here's 1947 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 1947

• 'Near You' and 'Peg o' My Heart' were among the year's most popular songs.
• The BBC Light Programme was where most households found their music.
• Dance halls stayed the main night out for young people.

In the news in 1947

• The winter of 1947 brought weeks of snow, fuel shortages and power cuts, followed by serious flooding in March.
• Princess Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten on 20 November.
• India and Pakistan became independent in August.
• The coal industry was nationalised in January.

On screen in 1947

• Hue and Cry, often called the first Ealing comedy, was released.
• Black Narcissus and Odd Man Out were the year's British films.
• Television was still London-only and a rarity.

In sport in 1947

• The first post-war full football season was played, and crowds were enormous.
• Denis Compton and Bill Edrich scored huge numbers of runs in a hot summer.
• The Grand National returned to a full field.

Everyday life in 1947

• Candles, power cuts and frozen pipes defined February.
• The royal wedding dress was paid for partly with clothing coupons.
• Austerity was the word used in every newspaper.

If you were born in 1947

• Anyone born in 1947 was born in the worst winter of the century.
• They were born the year Princess Elizabeth married Philip.
• Anyone born in 1947 turns 30 in 1977, 40 in 1987, 50 in 1997, 60 in 2007 and 70 in 2017.
• 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 1946
• Look back to 1945
• Look back to 1944
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• 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
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• 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
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• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Wedding cards
• Wedding cards guide
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

How bad was the winter of 1947?

Snow fell somewhere in the UK every day from 22 January to 17 March, with fuel shortages, power cuts and then severe flooding as it thawed.

When did Elizabeth and Philip marry?

20 November 1947, at Westminster Abbey.

How old is someone born in 1947?

Subtract 1947 from the current year. They turn 40 in 1987, 50 in 1997, 60 in 2007 and 70 in 2017.

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.