We take a look back at what made the headlines in 1981 - Credit: Archant The start of the 80s brought us big hair, and even bigger stories in Stevenage and North Herts. A decade after its launch, the Comet was well and truly a staple of the community in 1981, and continued as it meant to go on with a range of engaging and ever-important content. January 7, 1981, the Stevenage edition warned of 70 potential redundancies at Taylor Instrument Ltd in Gunnels Wood Road, with management making one last-ditch attempt to save the jobs with an application for a grant. Although the company was optimistic that the pledge for help would be successful, the Comet's report by Jane Laver warned of a gloomy situation for the job market in Stevenage.