Look Back To 1969: What Happened That Year

The moon landing, the Beatles on the roof and the end of the decade.

Here's 1969 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 1969

• 'Sugar, Sugar' by the Archies was the year's best-selling single.
• The Beatles played their last public performance on the roof of Apple in Savile Row on 30 January.
• Rolf Harris's 'Two Little Boys' was number one at Christmas, and stayed there into 1970.

In the news in 1969

• Apollo 11 landed on the Moon on 20 July, and Neil Armstrong stepped out in the early hours of 21 July UK time.
• Troops were deployed in Northern Ireland in August.
• The voting age was lowered to eighteen in 1969, taking effect for the 1970 election.
• The death penalty for murder was abolished permanently in December.

On screen in 1969

• BBC One and ITV began colour broadcasts in November.
• Monty Python's Flying Circus began on 5 October.
• The Italian Job and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were the films of the year.

In sport in 1969

• Leeds United won their first league title.
• Ann Jones won Wimbledon.
• Manchester City won the FA Cup.

Everyday life in 1969

• Families stayed up through the night to watch the moon landing on black and white sets.
• Concorde made its first test flights in March and April.
• The half crown was withdrawn ahead of decimalisation.

If you were born in 1969

• Anyone born in 1969 was born the year of the moon landing, which is about as good as birth years get for a card.
• They are the same age as Monty Python's Flying Circus.
• Anyone born in 1969 turns 30 in 1999, 40 in 2009, 50 in 2019, 60 in 2029 and 70 in 2039.
• 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 1968
• Look back to 1967
• Look back to 1966
• The 1960s: the whole decade
• 1960s party playlist
• Playground games by region
• Knock down ginger
• Conkers rules
• Marbles rules
• School dinners we all remember
• 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 1950s: the whole decade
• The 1940s: 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
• Birthday cards for kids
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

When was the moon landing?

Apollo 11 landed on 20 July 1969, and Neil Armstrong walked on the surface in the early hours of 21 July UK time.

What was the Christmas number one in 1969?

'Two Little Boys' by Rolf Harris, which stayed at number one into January 1970.

How old is someone born in 1969?

Subtract 1969 from the current year. They turn 40 in 2009, 50 in 2019, 60 in 2029 and 70 in 2039.

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.