Look Back To 1978: What Happened That Year

Grease, the first test-tube baby and the start of the winter of discontent.

Here's 1978 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 1978

• 'Rivers of Babylon' by Boney M. was the year's best-selling single, and the Grease soundtrack was everywhere.
• John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John had two number ones from Grease.
• Boney M.'s 'Mary's Boy Child - Oh My Lord' was the Christmas number one.

In the news in 1978

• Louise Brown, the first baby born after IVF, was born in Oldham on 25 July.
• The winter of discontent began in late 1978, with widespread strikes into 1979.
• The Yorkshire Ripper investigation dominated news in the north of England.

On screen in 1978

• Grange Hill began in February.
• Grease and Superman filled cinemas.
• Blake's 7 and Dallas both began on British screens.

In sport in 1978

• Argentina won the World Cup; Scotland went and England did not qualify.
• Ipswich Town won the FA Cup.
• Nottingham Forest won the league in their first season back up.

Everyday life in 1978

• Space Invaders arrived in arcades.
• The Sony Walkman was a year away; cassette players were still large.
• Strikes meant rubbish piled up in some cities that winter.

If you were born in 1978

• Anyone born in 1978 shares a birth year with Grange Hill and the first IVF baby.
• They were born the year Grease came out, so the soundtrack is technically theirs.
• Anyone born in 1978 turns 30 in 2008, 40 in 2018, 50 in 2028, 60 in 2038 and 70 in 2048.
• 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 1979
• Look back to 1977
• Look back to 1976
• Look back to 1975
• 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
• Birthday cards for kids
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

When was the first IVF baby born?

Louise Brown was born at Oldham General Hospital on 25 July 1978.

What was the Christmas number one in 1978?

'Mary's Boy Child - Oh My Lord' by Boney M.

How old is someone born in 1978?

Subtract 1978 from the current year. They turn 40 in 2018, 50 in 2028, 60 in 2038 and 70 in 2048.

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.