Power cuts of the 70's

[Chris]

What do you remember of the power cuts of the 70's?

[maud123]

I remember trying to warm food over candles when we had a limit on our electricity supply , as we had no gas supply to our house.

[megawoman]

I remember going to a wedding reception with candles all round the room. I was heavily pregnant and I was terrified some drunken lout would start a fire.

[John]

It is sad but if there were power cuts today like then, some
areas would be in chaos.

Gangs would have a free for all...

[R]

John is right

[rachandhelen]

It is sad but if there were power cuts today like then, some
areas would be in chaos.

Gangs would have a free for all...

i couldn't agree more!
You took the words out of my mouth

[Wrinkles]

Three then two day weeks, staying at home on the off days as there were few shops open and no money anyway, I had a small gas fire in one room and several neighbours would come in during the evening, one had a camping stove so we could boil water for tea and we would all make toast on the gas fire.

[rosynan]

Wrinkles that sounds like fun!  Hardly any of my neighbours speak English, especially those of my own age group so I wouldn't be able to take part in the conversation if put in a similar situation.  That is what the government won't acknowledge.  That in some areas the indigenous elderly population is isolated because their neighbours of their generation cannot speak English.  Yes the youngsters do and are most kind but you need to be able to speak to your own age group.  Know what I mean
Rosy

[Papaumau]

Hi Rosynan.....

I wasn't retired at that time and in fact up here in Scotland the cuts weren't nearly as bad as down south.

I am more worried about what is happening to the elderly ones right now as they struggle to decide whether to spend their pittance of a TAXED pension on food, clothing, heating or rent and that many now are finding that they cannot afford to do all of these things at the same time.

It is a disgrace that in one of the richest and most modern and supposedly civilised countries in the world that hundreds - even thousands - of old folk die of hypothermia each winter.

The governments - ANY governments - should be totally ashamed of themselves for allowing this to happen.

[Ivanhoe]

I couldnt agree more, but hey this is a self interested country, nobody cares about the old, because they aint old, yet.

[Edna]

And let us not forget why we had those powercuts. Union leaders intent on bringing down an elected government.

[Ivanhoe]

Union leaders fighting for their members rights to decent wages and working conditions.

[Edna]

Union leaders feathering their nests whilst millions suffered due to their ubreasonable demands. Kindly remember the elderly were the most vulnerable during the power cuts inflicted  on them.

[Ivanhoe]

And look at the elderly now, suffering a low State pension and high utility bills due to the same ethos at the top, that kept workers wages low during the 70's.

[Edna]

Wages were lower in the 60s and the 50s and so on. In the end the unions priced themselves out of work. I notice from reading your comments that you are obviously someone who believes we can just keep throwing money at anyone who wants it. Well wake up sonny Jim, this is the real world. There are millions of pensioners out there who enjoy a decent living through the fruits of their labour and the forsight to invest in their own future. For the less well off their is state provision. Or would you argue that we all deserve the same and damn those who worked hard and saved for the future.