Now I am a “baby boomer” one of those children born in the 1940s and ‘50’s who elements of the media and certain politicians use as a whipping post.
Most of us can truly claim to be the favoured generation, who unlike our parents and grandparents did not experience two world wars, a trade depression and mass unemployment.
And unlike our own children entered adulthood confident that a job could last a life time, that at every level our education would be free and we would move from the cradle to the grave with a plethora of services which secured our health and well being.
But that very set of “good things” is now used against us by forces who try to disguise the failings of the present economic climate and seek to push the blame onto one section of the population and thereby disguise their own failings in delivering a better and fairer way of life for the many.
Our parents and grandparents let down by the failed promises of the early decades of the last century were determined that we should have a better life and this they secured for us.
And we in turn worked hard to build on those gains and provide for our children.
Not that this is to ignore the very real problems faced by those in their 20s and 30s, many of who will never be able to afford to buy a home in Chorlton or Eltham or a whole swathe of districts where house prices have gone through the roof.
They work longer hours in an uncertain environment, and some face those dreaded “zero hour contracts” or the equally pernicious system of intern work and ponder just what pension deals will be available.
Of course for me despite all the glittering prizes I do have to concede there are fewer years ahead than behind which is sobering more because of all the things there are yet to do which brings me to that personal set of reflections on just what so many of my friends are now doing.
Most have retired, and many are discovering new challenges and opportunities.
My friend Lois like me is a writer, and while she has been writing all her adult life she now has more time to develop her talent, writing novels, leading writing groups and will appear at her local literary festival next year.
Her husband Barri, like Peter is painting away and exhibiting in shows, while I plod on with my own books, blog and research.
Others like Tom are engaged in working in the community and some like Keith have just not stopped doing their day job.
All of which is a long way for most of us from the occupations we set out on and is evidence of how far we have travelled.
But as optimistic as this is it shouldn’t blind us to that other stark fact that the raising of the state pension age has meant that many just a little younger than me will be working for many more years to come at a time when everything is creaking and that is something that the media and those politicians should reflect on when the baby boomers offer easy targets.
Pictures; from the collection of Andrew Simpson
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| Me at 16 |
And unlike our own children entered adulthood confident that a job could last a life time, that at every level our education would be free and we would move from the cradle to the grave with a plethora of services which secured our health and well being.
But that very set of “good things” is now used against us by forces who try to disguise the failings of the present economic climate and seek to push the blame onto one section of the population and thereby disguise their own failings in delivering a better and fairer way of life for the many.
Our parents and grandparents let down by the failed promises of the early decades of the last century were determined that we should have a better life and this they secured for us.
And we in turn worked hard to build on those gains and provide for our children.
Not that this is to ignore the very real problems faced by those in their 20s and 30s, many of who will never be able to afford to buy a home in Chorlton or Eltham or a whole swathe of districts where house prices have gone through the roof.
They work longer hours in an uncertain environment, and some face those dreaded “zero hour contracts” or the equally pernicious system of intern work and ponder just what pension deals will be available.
Of course for me despite all the glittering prizes I do have to concede there are fewer years ahead than behind which is sobering more because of all the things there are yet to do which brings me to that personal set of reflections on just what so many of my friends are now doing.
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| Me with our Theresa aged 61 |
My friend Lois like me is a writer, and while she has been writing all her adult life she now has more time to develop her talent, writing novels, leading writing groups and will appear at her local literary festival next year.
Her husband Barri, like Peter is painting away and exhibiting in shows, while I plod on with my own books, blog and research.
Others like Tom are engaged in working in the community and some like Keith have just not stopped doing their day job.
All of which is a long way for most of us from the occupations we set out on and is evidence of how far we have travelled.
But as optimistic as this is it shouldn’t blind us to that other stark fact that the raising of the state pension age has meant that many just a little younger than me will be working for many more years to come at a time when everything is creaking and that is something that the media and those politicians should reflect on when the baby boomers offer easy targets.
Pictures; from the collection of Andrew Simpson
Largely an echo of my own thoughts Andrew, I've just "retired" at the age of 66 & am awaiting my OAP Oystrcard & first pension payout & pondering at what age will my 18 y.o. twins will be able to retire?
ReplyDeleteThanks Phil .... grim
DeleteMy exact thoughts on this topic. Thanks for sharing
DeleteLots of things in this post to ponder on. I often find myself peering at the photos you publish with the uncomfortable feeling that the windows they provide, are views on a more civilised world.
ReplyDeleteI admit to being troubled that these days we hear a lot about injustices that were accepted in the past, but I cant help feeling we live a world which treats people (including our young) with much less kindness, and provides them with fewer opportunities.
Perhaps mine is white male, middle class view. Or perhaps I have just become Victor Meldrew. ;)
Yes I feel the same onset of Victor Mildrew, but you are right, from the perspective of the 1950s-70s we are more intolerant country on many things and the prospects of many young people are under challenge. I suppose some aspects of racial tolerance are better, but Brexit has opened a huge chasm and antisemitism seems on the march again.
ReplyDeleteI have two memories of the Palace cinema, both in the early 1950s. Firstly, in about 1954, our class (in Chorlton Park Primary School) of 9 year-olds was taken to see "Henry V",
ReplyDeletestarring Laurence Olivier. I'm pretty sure we went by bus and I don't recall having to take any money for bus or seat; maybe it was covered by an 'educational fund'.
The second occasion I remember was around the same year. It was one of the few times we two friends went to the 'Saturday rush' - the children's matinee.
Entrance fee was 3 pence downstairs, 6 pence upstairs. The programme was the usual one of comedy and cowboy films, but I didn't see them all.
Somebody sitting nearby said that screwed up silver paper flicked into the projector beam looked like a lighted match. My tube of sweets was wrapped in such paper so ...
I was immediately pounced upon by the usherette and thrown out.
The other school cinema trip was in June 1953 to the Forum, Northenden to see the 'double header' of the Queen's Coronation and 'Ascent of Everest'.
I feel that the whole school was bussed there.
Trevor
Well said, and very thought-provoking. We went through many great 'fears' - fear of a nuclear bomb, fear of the communist block, fear of some unspecified doom, but we also had great hope that we could change things - and we marched and protested and worked in our own ways to make things better. We both remember, don't we, the poverty which still existed for the kids we taught, but as you say there was the opportunities through education, through a health service which could make lives better - and more. We are still the fortunate ones, as you say, and is it just our age which makes us anxious about what's happening in the world? Do our kids have the same bright optimism we had at their age?
ReplyDeleteWhatever - great post, and thanks for the mention! Let's speak soon!
Yes. Well said. So many similarities. No wars to be conscripted into- free education, National health service, retired aged 60, free travel locally and a triple locked pension and good teacher pensions thanks to our Union… etc etc
ReplyDeleteIt’s good to be 74!
Dave