Look Back To 1987: What Happened That Year

The great storm, Black Monday and a third election win.

Here's 1987 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 1987

• 'Never Gonna Give You Up' by Rick Astley was the year's best-selling single.
• The Pet Shop Boys, Whitney Houston and Los Lobos all had number ones.
• The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl released 'Fairytale of New York', which reached number two at Christmas.

In the news in 1987

• The great storm struck southern England overnight on 15-16 October.
• Black Monday, 19 October, saw the biggest one-day fall in the London market.
• Margaret Thatcher won a third general election in June.
• The Herald of Free Enterprise capsized off Zeebrugge on 6 March; the King's Cross fire followed in November.

On screen in 1987

• Dirty Dancing and Fatal Attraction filled the cinemas.
• Inspector Morse began on ITV in January.
• Michael Fish's forecast on the evening of 15 October became the most replayed weather bulletin in British history.

In sport in 1987

• Coventry City beat Tottenham Hotspur to win the FA Cup.
• Stephen Hendry turned professional at sixteen.
• The first Rugby World Cup was held in New Zealand and Australia.

Everyday life in 1987

• The compact disc began to overtake vinyl in the shops.
• Home computer gaming moved towards the Amiga and Atari ST.
• Bank cash machines became common enough to rely on.

If you were born in 1987

• Anyone born in 1987 shares a birth year with the great storm and Inspector Morse.
• 'Fairytale of New York' has been on the radio every December of their life.
• Anyone born in 1987 turns 30 in 2017, 40 in 2027, 50 in 2037, 60 in 2047 and 70 in 2057.
• 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 1989
• Look back to 1988
• Look back to 1986
• Look back to 1985
• Look back to 1984
• The 1980s: the whole decade
• 1980s party playlist
• 80s kids' TV shows
• 80s quiz questions
• Toys of the 80s and 90s
• Computers and consoles we grew up with
• Saturday morning TV
• Cassette tapes and taping the charts
• The 2020s so far
• The 2010s: the whole decade
• The 2000s: the whole decade
• The 1990s: the whole decade
• The 1970s: 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
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• Nostalgia birthday party by decade
• Nostalgia hamper and gift ideas
• Guess the year quiz
• Care home reminiscence quiz
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• 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 happened in the great storm of October 1987?

Hurricane-force winds crossed southern England overnight on 15-16 October, bringing down around fifteen million trees and killing eighteen people.

What was the best-selling single of 1987?

'Never Gonna Give You Up' by Rick Astley.

How old is someone born in 1987?

Subtract 1987 from the current year. They turn 40 in 2027, 50 in 2037, 60 in 2047 and 70 in 2057.

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.