Decimalisation Day News Today

FIFTY years ago in the spring of 1971, long before the advent of mobile phones, emails and texts, the country’s communications were threatened with chaos when postal staff voted for a national strike. Unable to agree a pay deal with the Post Office, members of the Union of Post Office Workers downed envelopes, parcels and everything else and walked out, bringing the bulk of the UK’s postal services to a complete halt. Fortunately in south Worcestershire a band of rather unlikely heroe...

“It’s still in use in our house,” says John Wearmouth, of Darlington. It cannot have been much used for vigorous dusting as it shows only moderate signs of wear, despite being 50 years old. John sent it in following the article in Memories 512 about the 50th anniversary of Decimalisation Day on February 15, 1971. “Your story about the change to decimal money brought back many memories,” says Tony Crook, “as I worked for the National Cash Register Company in High Northgate, D...

Royal Mint marks 50th anniversary of Decimal Day: How Britain broke with centuries of monetary tradition as the sixpence, shilling, florin and half crown were replaced by decimal currency in 1971 When Britons woke up on February 15, 1971, £1 was worth 100p and shillings were replaced with 5p coins Countrys currency hadnt seen such a drastic overhaul since pound first introduced in Anglo-Saxon England The shilling coin introduced by Henry VII in the 1500s and the farthing under Queen Victoria i...