Into the Eighties

Reporter Stephen Matthews takes a tour of the South West and examines people's aspirations as they prepare for the new decade. The 1970s was marred by social strife, strikes and changes to living conditions after two world petrol crises caused periods of stagflation seriously affecting wages, standards of living and the country was caught in a period fluctuating but high unemployment. Conservative Margaret Thatcher became the first woman Prime Minister in May 1979.

This documentary examines attitudes, hopes and fears over the future for children and the education system, peace and security and adequate housing. Housing developments at Estover and Leigham create a new community in Plymouth. Tourists attest to a booming tourism staycation industry on the English Riviera but hint at new foreign holidays on the horizon. Changes to the workplace and the farm and its use of pesticides are evidenced as are retirement, hospitals, the police and ambulance services. It provides an insight into life in the South West and the attitudes of its residents at the time before the onset of major societal change of the 1980s. The 1970s was labelled as the pivot of change decade.