Every week we go back to re-visit some of the significant happenings that took place in living memory; just about, for some of us.
To remind ourselves of how life has changed and how some things stay the same it is fascinating to note what made the news this week in history, starting 1st February
1984: Halfpenny coin to meet its maker – Britain’s least-loved currency is to leave the nation’s purses after 13 years of almost universal unpopularity.
1979: Sid Vicious dies from drugs overdose – Sex Pistols’ bassist Sid Vicious dies of a heroin overdose in New York.
1988: Nurses protest for better pay – Nurses across the UK take part in a day of industrial action to secure more money for themselves and the NHS.
1996: First GM food goes on sale in UK – Two British supermarket chains will be stocking genetically modified tomato puree from today – the first GM food to be sold in this country.
1953: Sweet rationing ends in Britain – The rationing of confectionery ends after 10 years, with schoolchildren first in the queue for unlimited sweets and chocolate.
Celebrity birthdays
2nd – Pop singer Shakira is 39 years old and actor David Jason is 76
3rd – Lawyer and wife to George, Amal Clooney is 38
4th – Rock singer and performer Alice Cooper is 68
5th – Reality star turned TV presenter Alison Hammond is 41
