Look Back To 1971: What Happened That Year

Decimal Day, the first Glastonbury as we know it and Slade on the way up.

Here's 1971 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 1971

• 'My Sweet Lord' by George Harrison was the year's best-selling single.
• T. Rex had two number ones and glam rock properly began.
• Benny Hill's 'Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)' was the Christmas number one.

In the news in 1971

• Decimal currency was introduced on 15 February.
• The Open University took its first students.
• The Ibrox disaster in Glasgow on 2 January killed 66 people.

On screen in 1971

• The Two Ronnies began on BBC One.
• Diamonds Are Forever brought Sean Connery back as Bond.
• Clockwork Orange was released and withdrawn from British cinemas the following year.

In sport in 1971

• Arsenal won the league and FA Cup double.
• Britain's John Surtees and Jackie Stewart kept motor racing in the headlines; Stewart won the drivers' title.
• Barry John was the star of the Lions tour to New Zealand.

Everyday life in 1971

• Everyone carried a decimal conversion card for months.
• Space hoppers and Clackers were the toys of the year.
• Pre-decimal coins lingered in jars for decades afterwards.

If you were born in 1971

• Anyone born in 1971 has never spent a shilling.
• They were born the same year as the Open University's first intake.
• Anyone born in 1971 turns 30 in 2001, 40 in 2011, 50 in 2021, 60 in 2031 and 70 in 2041.
• 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 1974
• Look back to 1973
• Look back to 1972
• Look back to 1970
• The 1970s: the whole decade
• 1970s party playlist
• 70s kids' TV shows
• 70s quiz questions
• British Bulldog rules
• Kerby rules
• Sweets that disappeared
• Test card, Ceefax and three channels
• 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 1960s: 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
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

What was Decimal Day?

15 February 1971, when the UK switched to 100 new pence to the pound, replacing shillings and old pence.

What was the Christmas number one in 1971?

'Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)' by Benny Hill.

How old is someone born in 1971?

Subtract 1971 from the current year. They turn 40 in 2011, 50 in 2021, 60 in 2031 and 70 in 2041.

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.