Was life better in the Swinging Sixties?

Do you think life was better in the sixties than today? The sixties had the Beatles, the Summer of Love, the mini skirt and the mini car. For many people life in the sixties was simpler, there was less pressure and people were happier. Do you agree?

Today we are better off materially. There has been tremendous technological progress since 1969. We have opportunities to travel to far off lands previously undreamt of except by those adventurous enough to follow the hippy trail.

What do you think? Would you swap technological progress for a simpler life?

Yes I was born in 1960, so I saw the '60s as a young lad growing up in Ilford, Essex. I not only remember the great fun we had as kids playing, without the restrictions placed on children now. There were still some bomb sites we used to play on then. Couldn't happen now. I can also remember one of my Mums sisters coming to our house breathless and upset in 1963 saying "have you heard?, Kennedy's been shot!" (I'd no idea who this person was, by the way!) People seemed to be bothered about the more important events that were shaping our world then, not as in today when the big conversation of the week is who was voted off the X Factor. The streets were certainly cleaner than now, and we always showed respect to our elders and betters. Give cheek to a teacher? I don't think so. They were simpler times, yes, but everyone had grand hopes of the future with all the new technology that seemed to arrive almost every day, well, if you were to believe BBC's Tomorrows World! Would I go back if I could? You bet I would! Simon Purslow

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• Britain in the 60s