What was a big news story when you were growing up that young people today wouldn't have heard of?

[Brettthepei]

the queens mother passing

The actor from Allo Allo almost dying in the big storm the weatherman said wouldnt happen

I thought that too but it was actually the Burns Night storm that he was injured in.

There was a lady who broke down on the M50 and was murdered - Marie something?

not in date order

Harold Shipman
Holly & Jessica
Millenium bug
Iraq war/war on terror
Foot and mouth
Queen mum dying

They do teach about Aberfan in school in Wales, a survivor came into my dd’s school to talk to them about the day.

Back in the late '90s, there was widespread concern about computer systems crashing as we transitioned into the year 2000. It was a topic of discussion and preparation worldwide. Young people today might not have heard much about it since it turned out to be less of an issue than anticipated. By the way, have you heard about the recent revenue success of Bally MA drive? Have a peek here at their impressive numbers. Times have certainly changed since our younger days, but it's fun to reflect on the past!

It was only "less of an issue than anticipated" because of all the preparation. At the firms I worked at in the mid to late 90s, we spent huge amounts of money on replacing old equipment and new software. Staff were taken on for the sole purpose of moving systems/data etc over from old to new systems. Not just computers themselves, but servers, printers, scanners, modems, network software, desktop operating systems and applications, bespoke software etc. It was a huge thing in the 90s. And yes, it was necessary. I know a lot of people take the piss and say it was all over-dramatised etc. because nothing bad happened, but heaven knows what could have happened if all the people in power, management, etc hadn't taken it seriously and taken precautions.

😂😂

I remember it being part of the Apple vs Windows debate.

windows software had a 2 digit date- 01/03/87 for example. Apple had included a 4 digit date- 01/03/1987

therefore, in theory, windows would tick over to 01/01/00, Apple to 01/01/2000.

i was in an Apple based design environment at the time and there was a lot of smugness about not needing to worry about it, while windows were frantically patching the system.

but that was the basics of the “millennium bug” 😂

From what I remember, Windows was actually OK as it was relatively modern and if I remember correctly just needed an update/patch on each device to update to the most recent version. It was the older systems, i.e. the old MS-Dos operating system, Novell network operating system, etc that people were worried about, and of course, all the different software packages and bespoke software, where it was hard to know whether the programmers had properly allowed for the year 2000. The first generation of IBM PCs were also a worry as were mainframe computers as the integral BIOS may or may not have been capable of 4 digit year setting or just 2 digit. But overall, I think the biggest worry was the compatibility between software, operating software and the BIOS, as all three "could be" Y2k compliant but not necessarily work together properly once the year had rolled over. It was all a nightmare. Considering that computers and programs were mostly created in the 80s, it was a very poor show that an event just 20 or less years later hadn't been thought about!

I also remember the Herald of Free Enterprise coverage and found the footage so eerie, the boat on its side. We used to take many day trips to France with our parents.

During the coverage I remember an appeal to find a girl of about 13 who had been seen on camera leaving the ship but was missing. I always wanted to know if she turned up but can't find anything. She was wearing a black & white stripy top.

Have googled Lesley Whittle case mentioned up thread. That is something out of a twisted horror film! That poor girl.

Has anyone mentioned Cat bin lady? Big scandal at the time.

Greenham Common.

1974

• the three day week.

• Lord Lucan disappears after the murder of his children's nanny.

• Former Cabinet Minister John Stonehouse is found living in Australia having faked his own death in Miami. He is quickly arrested by Australian police, who initially believe that he is Lord Lucan.

The Lockerbie disaster. I was about 11 years old and didn't normally pay attention to news stories but I think because it happened at Christmas and people were trying to get home for the holidays, it really stuck with me. I wasn't a particularly anxious child but I remember being really upset.

I remember a few weeks after Christmas, the student-run school newsletter published a really sick joke about it. I guess no adults actually vetted the school newsletter back then, but oh my, I was outraged. I burst into tears and marched to the headmasters' office and told his secretary who agreed it was awful and shouldn't have been printed. After that they introduced an adult into the editing/printing process of the newsletter.

Years later at an event I got chatting to an elderly chap who'd lost his daughter in the attack. As soon as he started talking, I was instantly transported back to my 11 year old outraged/upset self. I remember he was surprised that I'd even heard of Lockerbie as he said so many people had forgotten. Almost daily we're surrounded by so much sadness and tragedy but some stories in particular just seem to 'stick' with you. Lockerbie was mine.

Piper Alpha
Lockerbie
Chernobyl

There was a Nichola Buckley age 13 who died in the disaster along with her parents Carole and Patrick.

That's all I could find.

Northern Ireland troubles and the mainland bombing campaign. Visitors to Northern Ireland might wonder if any of it was real when they look at the lovely new shops and restaurants.

That woman with the big boobs streaking at the rugby. Erika someone?

The Westland Affair.

I found her! She survives bed!

When you click on the link it doesn't bring up the photo so I could only take a screenshot.

Spelling mistakes!

She survived. I idea why the extra word bed was there!

@Busubaba wow how did you manage to find that! So glad she survived. I thought she had got off the ferry and then gone missing somehow. Must have been so scary

I searched for victims of the disaster thinking it might bring up photos but of course photos most likely wouldn't be of them from the day so she wouldn't be wearing a striped top when her photo was taken!

I then searched for survivors and found the photo of the girl in the striped top just as you described!

It was a terrible tragedy, so many people off on a lovely outing and their lives cut short in such a dreadful way.