Steve, I went onto university and afterwards was forunate to get a job. Yes though, your right, there was mass unemployment. When compulsory school finished for me in 1978 me and my went to the local signing office to go get 'the dole'. I remember there was a mass of people. It was like saturday morning at the turnstiles at United game. Callaghan was still hanging on but about to get kicked out to be replace by Thatcher.
I don't know how old you are but it was another UK. The country was about to go through profound change that would lead all sort of upheavels. Being a teenager I did not know what was coming around the corner. I think I got about £28 and I used it to buy some records ( John Lennon "Imagine" ) and all that summer we looked for jobs and there was no point. There was thousands of young people walking around looking for jobs but all the old industries were closing down and the new economy was yet to evolve.
Just on a separate note hardly anybody identified as "Muslim". It was more like "Pak**" which is what I was known as. Islamic radicalism was unheard of. This began to raise it's head from mid to late 1980s and took off in mid 1990s. I can't believe those innocent days are gone. If news reported about any "bomb" going off the first thing that came to mind was "Irish" or "Paddy" or in my neck of woods "Tinkers". There were some Irish lads and when something happened ( like the IRA Warrenpoint Ambush ) the Irish lads got the stick. I knew quite a few guy's who left school and signed up to join the army and many did tours in NI.
I never imagined that one day the Irish/terrorism connection would vanish it would be me that would be getting fingers pointed at. Amazing ....
@Akheilos If you don't mind how old are you and are you student In US? If you don't feel comfortable saying so I will understand.
Ps. Steve to give you an idea if you wanted to pay for your phone bill you had to go to PO in town centre and there was a que always to pay your bill. Can you imagine that? If you wanted another line it was like asking a favour. Now the private companies run after you then it was other way around. Soon after privatization under Thatcher started.
Oh and a little titbit.
When I went to signing office they gave you UB40 ( a pice of paper with your name and signing dates ) which of course was inspiration behind the group UB40.
