Look Back To 1949: What Happened That Year

Clothes rationing ended, the pound was devalued and the decade closed on austerity.

Here's 1949 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 1949

• 'Some Enchanted Evening' and 'Riders in the Sky' were among the year's popular songs.
• The 45rpm single was introduced in America, three years before Britain had a chart to put it in.
• Dance bands were beginning to give way to solo singers.

In the news in 1949

• Clothes rationing ended in March.
• The pound was devalued in September, from 4.03 to 2.80 dollars.
• NATO was founded in April.
• The Ireland Act recognised the Republic of Ireland in the same year.

On screen in 1949

• The Third Man and Passport to Pimlico were released, and Kind Hearts and Coronets the same year.
• Television licences reached around one hundred thousand.
• Cinema remained the weekly habit for most families.

In sport in 1949

• Portsmouth won the First Division.
• Wolverhampton Wanderers won the FA Cup.
• The Superga air disaster killed the Torino football team in May.

Everyday life in 1949

• Petrol was still rationed and would be until 1950.
• Prefabs, ration books and queues were still the everyday reality.
• The first self-service grocery shops were being tried.

If you were born in 1949

• Anyone born in 1949 is the last of the forties.
• They were born the year clothes rationing finally ended.
• Anyone born in 1949 turns 30 in 1979, 40 in 1989, 50 in 1999, 60 in 2009 and 70 in 2019.
• 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.

Shop birthday cards

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 1948
• Look back to 1947
• Look back to 1946
• 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 clothes rationing end?

March 1949, though food rationing continued until 1954.

Was there a record chart in 1949?

No. The first UK singles chart was published on 14 November 1952.

How old is someone born in 1949?

Subtract 1949 from the current year. They turn 40 in 1989, 50 in 1999, 60 in 2009 and 70 in 2019.

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.