The Queen debuts on bank notes
In 1959 the Queen's head appeared on bank notes for the first time. Duty free shopping became a feature at all our major airports and the National Insurance Act brought in the graduated pension scheme. By this time televisions were found in two thirds of British homes and sorting machines and postal codes were introduced by the GPO.
Heralding the beginnings of a new major road network the official opening of the M1 Motorway took place.
A Lightning jet fighter flew at twice the speed of sound and the hovercraft, invented by Christopher Cockerill, was unveiled on its cushion of air.
In world affairs Britain joined the European Free Trade Association; a state of emergency was declared in Southern Rhodesia; the Queen opened the St Lawrence Seaway in Canada; the Cod Wars went on near Iceland; Cyprus entered a power sharing agreement between Greek and Turkish groups; President de Gaulle became the President of France: Alaska and Hawaii became the 49th and 50th States of America respectively and an International Agreement set aside Antarctica as an area for scientific research.
In the space exploration race two US monkeys named 'Able' and 'Baker' were returned safely to earth after they had travelled 1700 miles in a rocket at a height of 360 miles. Manned flight would come next. The Russian spacecraft, Lunar III, took pictures of the dark side of the Moon.
1959 saw the passing of the much loved comedian and film star, Lou Costello, and many remember enjoying the hilarious Abbott and Costello films. Other great entertainers who died that year were film heart throb, Errol Flynn, opera singer, Mario Lanza (killed in a plane crash) and the British racing driver, Mike Hawthorn.
At the cinema audiences watched Charlton Heston in the epic film 'Ben Hur' and Cliff Richard in 'Expreso Bongo'.. 'The Sound of Music' opened to popular acclaim on Broadway, and is still much enjoyed after fifty years.
Songs of that year were Maurice Chevalier's 'Thank Heaven for Little Girls', Cliff Richard's great hit, 'Living Doll', 'Little White Bull' (Tommy Steele); 'Maria' from West Side Story; 'Does your chewing gum lose its flavour on the bedpost overnight', (Lonnie Donegan) and 'Side Saddle' Russ Conway.
Ingamar Johannson became the first Swedish boxer to win the world heavyweight boxing title when he knocked out America's Floyd Patterson.
Peruvian born Alex Almedo defeated Australian Rod Laver to take the men's single's title at Wimbledon, and the ladies singles trophy went to Brazilian ace Maria Bueno. Nottingham Forest won the FA Cup, beating Luton Town 2-1.
It is a pity Yorkshire Cricket Club do not now show their form of those days for in 1959 they won the County Championship. In Test cricket England were thrashed down under, but back home they completed a whitewash against the Indians.
'Parthia', ridden by Michael Scuddamore, won the Derby and 'Oxo' won the Grand National. South Africa's Gary Player won the British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield.
Next week: Matters of grave concern. Part 1 - Parting shots.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Epworth
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -3 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
