Look Back To 1963: What Happened That Year

The big freeze, Beatlemania, Doctor Who and the assassination of President Kennedy.

Here's 1963 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.

In the charts in 1963

• The Beatles had three number ones in the year and two of the year's biggest sellers.
• 'She Loves You' became the best-selling single of the decade in Britain.
• The Beatles' 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' was number one at Christmas.

In the news in 1963

• The big freeze lasted from Boxing Day 1962 until March, with snow lying for weeks.
• The Great Train Robbery took place on 8 August.
• John F. Kennedy was assassinated on 22 November.
• The Profumo affair ran through the summer and ended Harold Macmillan's premiership.

On screen in 1963

• Doctor Who began on 23 November, the day after the Kennedy assassination, and the first episode was repeated a week later.
• The Beatles appeared on the Royal Variety Performance in November.
• Steptoe and Son was drawing enormous audiences.

In sport in 1963

• Manchester United won the FA Cup.
• Jim Clark won the Formula One world championship.
• The cricket season began late because of the winter.

Everyday life in 1963

• Beatle haircuts, collarless jackets and screaming crowds were on every news bulletin by the autumn.
• Pirate radio was about to start; the BBC still controlled pop on the airwaves.
• Milk bottles froze on doorsteps well into February.

If you were born in 1963

• Anyone born in 1963 is the same age as Doctor Who.
• They were born in the year of Beatlemania and the coldest winter of the century.
• Anyone born in 1963 turns 30 in 1993, 40 in 2003, 50 in 2013, 60 in 2023 and 70 in 2033.
• 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

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• Look back to 1965
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• The 1950s: the whole decade
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• The 1930s: the whole decade
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• 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
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• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
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• Photo booth prop ideas
• Birthday cards for kids
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

When did Doctor Who start?

23 November 1963. Coverage of the Kennedy assassination the day before meant the first episode was repeated the following week.

What was the best-selling single of the 1960s?

'She Loves You' by the Beatles, released in August 1963.

How old is someone born in 1963?

Subtract 1963 from the current year. They turn 40 in 2003, 50 in 2013, 60 in 2023 and 70 in 2033.

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.