Ray’s Rants Life in the 1950s 1960s 1970s Great Britain girls England family UK work school British music night clubs pubs fashion pirate radio Caroline English holidays television
426 episodes - English - Latest episode: 1 day ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingRay’s Rants back to the 1960s 1970s 1950s in the UK Great Britain. Entertaining and fun. British music scene, Jimi Hendrix The Rolling Stones. The English pubs and clubs, Watney’s Red Barrel beer, Babycham, Cherry B the night life. The cars, the workplace, television and pirate radio. England. Schools back in the early days. 60s fashion and clothes, flairs and miniskirts. London, Caroline, Luxembourg. Mini cars skirts. Holiday in caravan, Butlin’s
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Episodes
The High Street
December 06, 2020 10:15 - 24 minutes - 24.1 MBIs the high street dead? Is a revival of the high street feasible? Huge supermarkets finished off small businesses and many local shops disappeared. Now, major retailers are going out of business. What is the future of the high street? Will we have dozens of coffee shops? Will charity shops take over town centres? Join me for a look at the high street.
Do It Yourself, or a professional job?
November 29, 2020 09:08 - 20 minutes - 19.7 MBIf you want a job doing properly, do it yourself. That’s what I was told when I was young, and very often it’s good advice. Join me in this episode as I look at the difference between a professional job and DIY. You might be surprised by some of my revelations!
Automations and Job Losses
November 22, 2020 09:31 - 22 minutes - 23.1 MBAutomation is progress, it’s great… But it means job losses. Automatic letter sorting replaced dozens of men. Electric trains replaced steam, the fireman was redundant. The bus conductor was made redundant. Shops disappeared with progress and the advent of retail parks. The coal shop, the wool shop, the ironmonger… In this episode, I look at the jobs that no longer exist.
Children!
November 15, 2020 08:27 - 19 minutes - 19.4 MBThe joys of bringing up children. The tantrums, slamming doors, the tears… And the things our parents used to say to us. You’re not going out until you’ve tidied your room. Yeah but, why can’t I? Because I said so! Join me for a look at the joys of parenting and kids.
My brush with the Aristocracy.
November 08, 2020 08:11 - 19 minutes - 19.8 MBMy brush with the Aristocracy is a fun look at the lives of the people in the Big House on the hill. My clandestine visits to the house revealed just how different my Lord and Lady were to us commoners in the village.
Junk – To Keep or Dump?
November 01, 2020 09:48 - 20 minutes - 20.4 MBYou find an kid’s bike in the attic, it’s from the 1950s… Do you dump it or keep it? An old vacuum cleaner from the 1940s… Do you take it to the rubbish tip or clean it up and keep it? One man’s junk is another man’s treasure. If you throw something away, you can be sure that you’ll regret it. But you can’t keep everything!
Seeds of Doubt
October 25, 2020 08:40 - 19 minutes - 19.4 MB‘I saw your boyfriend out with another girl…’ the seed of doubt has been planted! That’s all it takes, just one little comment, to destroy a relationship. I’ve received several emails from listeners who have been stung by the seed of doubt. Join me in this fascinating episode.
Decorating, then and now.
October 18, 2020 08:03 - 24 minutes - 22.3 MBIn this episode, I look back and the way people decorated their houses one hundred years ago. The paint and wallpaper, the carpets… And the way we decorate now. In some respects, what was modern then is modern now! What goes around comes around.
Ghost Hospital
October 11, 2020 07:59 - 24 minutes - 31.5 MBDuring a visit to a modern hospital, I got lost in the labyrinth of corridors and found myself taken back to a ghostly Victorian hospital. I thought I’d walked into a museum as I spoke to a doctor. The young nurses were dressed in old-fashioned uniforms, the wards were eerie… I soon realised that I’d gone back in time. In this episode, I relate my strange and, at times, frightening experience.
Cheats Never Prosper
October 04, 2020 07:51 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBAdulterer, love rat, two-timing cheat… When someone cheats on their partner, it can cause heartbreak, devastation and despair. In this episode, I recall the deceit and cheating I’ve witnessed between some couples. Strangely, the outcome isn’t always bad!
Reducing Stress
September 27, 2020 07:57 - 18 minutes - 16.9 MBMost people suffer from stress at some stage in the lives. How can we calm ourselves after a stressful day? From listening to relaxing music to a workout in the gym, there are several ways to reduce stress. According to some, there's a tried and tested way. Come and join me for a walk in the woods.
The Four Seasons.
September 20, 2020 06:40 - 16 minutes - 15.1 MBWinter, Spring, Summer, Autumn. The four seasons are very different, bringing different experiences to different people. Summer holidays, winter nights, dark evenings, lighter evenings… Join me for a look at the seasons.
Your Emails.
September 13, 2020 07:52 - 21 minutes - 19.6 MBI’ve received shed loads of emails over the last year or so. In this episode, I read some of your comments, funny, happy, rude and sad. Join me for a look back over the last year of Podcast episodes, and what you thought of them.
Broken Marriage.
September 06, 2020 07:37 - 25 minutes - 24 MBA young couple fall in love, they marry and build a home together, they have a baby… Then disaster hits. Divorce. What went wrong? Why? Whose fault was it?
Working From Home
August 30, 2020 06:26 - 16 minutes - 15.5 MBWorking from home, the idea sounds great. You can start when you like, finish when you like, take a day off when you like. But… is it a good as is sounds? In this episode, I explore the good side… and the not so good side, of working from home.
Thoughts of a Recluse.
August 23, 2020 07:04 - 18 minutes - 17.8 MBAre you a recluse? Would you rather go out for a meal with friends or stay at home? Do you try to avoid parties and BBQs? What is a recluse? I’ve been chatting to a friend who reckons he’s a recluse. Join me on 23rd August and I’ll reveal his thoughts.
1950s House Wives.
August 16, 2020 11:47 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MBWhat was it like for married women back in the 1950s? Were they chained to the kitchen sink? Cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing, bringing up kids… Were they happy? I’ve spoken to several women from that ere and my findings are very interesting.
Your First Radio
August 09, 2020 07:28 - 19 minutes - 26.6 MBImagine you’re back in the 1930s. You have no television, no radio, no telephone. Your only entertainment was the cinema. Your only source of news was Pathe News or a newspaper. Then, your first radio is delivered by the man from the local wireless shop. You hear a live concert from the Royal Albert Hall, you hear the BBC Home Service news… A magical experience, indeed! Join me for a look back at the early days of radio and television.
Politically Correct?
August 02, 2020 06:53 - 21 minutes - 19.4 MBYou have to be careful of what you say these days. Everything is so politically correct that it’s become a maze of confusion. Can I say this? Can I say that? I take a look back at how things changed over the years including wolf whistling, curved cucumbers and old jam jars.
Hospitals Doctors and Dentists.
July 26, 2020 07:23 - 23 minutes - 22.1 MBWhat were hospitals like in the 50s and 60s? How have things changed at the doctor’s surgery or in the dentist chair? I have first hand experience of a men’s surgical ward in the early 1960s. Join me as I recall my visits to the dentist and the doctor.
Food...
July 19, 2020 07:39 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MBWe all have to eat to survive, but some of us are fussy eaters. Apparently, I’m a fussy eater. I don’t like blood dripping from meat. I don’t like veins, liver, hearts, brains, tongues… But I’m not a fussy eater. It’s just that I don’t like filth!
Getting Old.
July 12, 2020 06:47 - 16 minutes - 15.8 MBGrowing old gracefully… or disgracefully? Old age seems to creep up and catch you unawares. It’s only when we discover that we can no longer do something that we’ve always taken for granted, that we realize that old age is approaching. Join me for a look at getting older.
Tunnels Under The Ground.
July 04, 2020 05:32 - 16 minutes - 15.9 MBTunnels, bunkers, chambers, secret rooms… There are hundreds of man-made tunnels beneath the ground. Some are nuclear bunkers, some were secret wartime command posts, radar sites and communication hubs. Join me for a chat about the mysteries of the secret tunnels.
Meeting Girls.
June 28, 2020 08:24 - 15 minutes - 14.8 MBMeeting girls back in the 1960s and 70s wasn’t as you might imagine. There were pubs and clubs but they weren’t necessarily the best places to meet the opposite sex. Join me as I look back at some of the girls I met… and where I met them.
Where have all the insects gone?
June 21, 2020 08:56 - 17 minutes - 16.5 MBWhere have all the insects gone? And the hedgehogs and the frogs and the field mice and the... Over the last 50 years, there's been a disastrous decline in, not only in insects, but hedgehogs and other animals.
The Games People Played
June 14, 2020 07:43 - 19 minutes - 18.1 MBBoard games, garden games, street games such as hopscotch and roller skating… Were games in the 1950s very different to games kids play these days? Join me in a look back at the games kids played.
Hosting Students
June 07, 2020 07:39 - 15 minutes - 15.2 MBEvery summer, foreign students flood into the UK to learn English. They stay with host families, which usually works extremely well for both student and family. However, things aren’t always what they seem…
The English Language
May 31, 2020 08:03 - 19 minutes - 18.2 MBThe English language, grammar, syntax, sayings… In this episode, I take a look at the mistakes people make when speaking or writing. I hope you find somthink of what might interest you, if you get my drift, know what I mean.
Early Retirement
May 24, 2020 08:15 - 15 minutes - 15 MBYour partner works and you’ve retired. You’ve had several years at home alone during the week. You have your daily routine, coffee at ten, lunch at one… Your partner takes early retirement and your routine is completely disrupted. How do you cope?
Gardens Then and Now.
May 17, 2020 10:07 - 17 minutes - 16.3 MBGardens back in the 1940s and 50s were very different. No patio area, no brick built barbecue, no water feature or outside lights… So, what were gardens like back then? Join me for a look at gardens then and now.
VE Day Celebrations and Lockdown
May 10, 2020 08:01 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MBAs we celebrate VE Day, we also find ourselves in lockdown. Join me for a look at lockdown and take a trip back to the 1940s. Similar but very different times.
Make do and Mend.
May 03, 2020 07:37 - 17 minutes - 16.3 MBWe live in a throw away world, which is a shame. In the old days, people would repair or mend things rather than dump them. In this episode, I look back at the days of make do and mend.
Friends
April 26, 2020 07:51 - 18 minutes - 17.5 MBFriends, good and bad. Some people are real friends, some are only acquaintances, some aren’t worth knowing. In this episode I look back at friends of all types.
Kids Then And Now.
April 19, 2020 07:29 - 15 minutes - 15 MBA young lad’s questions about my younger years… You didn’t have a mobile phone? You didn’t have a TV in your bedroom? You walked to school! Your mum couldn’t drive? How did she go shopping? You didn’t go on an aeroplane?
Questions and Answers.
April 12, 2020 08:00 - 15 minutes - 15 MBIn this episode, I answer some of the many emails and messages I’ve received. There are a range of questions from humorous to rude and strange to obscene! Join me for some fun! Comments or suggestions? Please email me. [email protected] https://radioray.podbean.com/
Village Life. Behind The Facade.
April 05, 2020 07:24 - 16 minutes - 15.6 MBFollowing on from last week’s episode, I reveal more about life behind the scenes in a quaint English village. The vicar, the tennis club, the local bobby on his bike, the exploits of Mrs Fortescue, the girls down at the local stables… There’s far more to village life than meets the eye! Comments or suggestions? Please email me. [email protected] https://radioray.podbean.com/
Tales of a Parish Councillor.
March 29, 2020 08:48 - 16 minutes - 15.3 MBDecades ago, I became a Parish Councillor. My first council meeting was amusing, to say the least. But what happened with a young female councillor was unbelievable! But true!
Self Isolating.
March 22, 2020 07:53 - 15 minutes - 15.4 MBPeople have asked whether I’m self isolating. Yes, I suppose I am. There again, I think I’ve always done so as I’m a somewhat of a recluse. In this episode, I talk about panic buying, staying at home rather then going out to pubs and restaurants, and personal hygiene. Join me, if you will. Comments or suggestions? Please email me. [email protected] https://radioray.podbean.com/
Homes back in the 1950s.
March 15, 2020 08:27 - 23 minutes - 22.6 MBIn this episode, I look back at homes in the 1950s. The kitchen with its Formica worktops and coal boiler, the lounge with a coal fire, the freezing cold bathroom during winter months… Join me for a look back at the good old days! Comments or suggestions? Please email me. [email protected]
Moaning and Groaning
March 08, 2020 09:23 - 19 minutes - 18.3 MBIn this episode, I ramble on and moan and groan about things. Pot holes in roads, coffee served in soup bowls, cars without spare wheels... Join me for a good old moan! Comments or suggestions? Please email me. [email protected]
That's Progress!
March 01, 2020 10:36 - 16 minutes - 15.7 MBYou’ve heard people say, ‘that’s progress for you!’ It’s usually a sarcastic remark, meaning that the old method or item was far better. In this episode, I look back at the way things were, and the way things are now. Comments or suggestions? Please email me. [email protected]
Car boot sales.
February 23, 2020 12:59 - 18 minutes - 17.8 MBCar boot sales can be fun and very profitable. They can be a fascinating insight to the human race. Join me as I look back at my experiences both as a buyer and a seller at car boot sales. Comments or suggestions? Please email me. [email protected]
Smoking in the 50s and 60s.
February 17, 2020 09:38 - 21 minutes - 21.6 MBMost people smoked back in the 50s and 60s. If you didn’t smoke, people thought you odd. Now, if you smoke, people think you odd. How times have changed! Listen to my story of smoking over forty-two years... and how I finally gave up. Comments or suggestions? Please email me. [email protected]
Radio & TV adverts - too loud!
February 09, 2020 07:20 - 20 minutes - 19.4 MBEverything is so loud these days. People shout and music blasts your ears on TV adverts, video introductions assault your hearing, kids programs are aggressive and loud… Things were so much more relaxed and calm when I was a kid. Join me for a look back at quieter times. Comments or suggestions? Please email me. [email protected]
The Lost Soul.
February 02, 2020 09:39 - 13 minutes - 12.8 MBBack in the 1970s, I met Rachael. She was interested in the countryside… and ghosts. I arranged to meet her in the woods by a farm gate. We were going to look for ghosts. But there was far more to Rachael than I realized. Comments or suggestions? Please email me. [email protected]
The House In The Woods.
January 25, 2020 09:50 - 16 minutes - 15.7 MBI was always in the woods when I was a kid. Climbing trees, catching tadpoles in the pond, messing about… They were great times. One day, I came across a house buried deep in the woods. A girl lived there. Her name was Amy and she was about my age. But there was something very strange about Amy… and her house. Are you afraid of ghosts? Comments or suggestions? Please email me. [email protected]
Family weekends in the 1950s and 60s.
January 19, 2020 11:35 - 16 minutes - 15.2 MBWhat did families do on Saturdays and Sundays back in the 50s and 60s? Car maintenance, gardening, picnics, Saturday morning pictures… join me for a look back at those good old days. Comments or suggestions? Please email me. [email protected]
Planning permission in the 1950s and 1960s.
January 12, 2020 09:40 - 16 minutes - 15.3 MBA garden shed, a greenhouse, a TV aerial… All needed planning permission back in the 1950s and 60s. In theory, people weren’t even allowed to hang out their washing! Join me for a light-hearted look at crafty ways around planning back in those good old days. Comments or suggestions? Please email me. [email protected]
English sayings, phrases and oddities.
January 05, 2020 08:49 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MBStone the crows! Where did that saying originate? How about, a load of cobblers? The English language is quirky, interesting and forever changing. Join me for a fun look at some of the old sayings and oddities of the language. Comments or suggestions? Please email me. [email protected]
Christmas food - then and now
December 29, 2019 10:52 - 21 minutes - 20.3 MBCan you imagine peeling your own sprouts, shelling your own peas, cracking your own nuts, grating your own cheese, washing your own potatoes... Christmas dinner was a very different affair in the 1950s. Join me in a trip down memory lane. We'll also be looking into dustbins! Comments or suggestions? Please email me. [email protected]