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What is the first big news story you remember?

(224 Posts)
ChickenCakey Fri 08-Nov-19 15:51:57

The first one I remember was the great train robbery when I was about 6 I think

Buttonjugs Sat 09-Nov-19 09:23:05

The Biafra crisis. All those starving children, horrible. I was really young too, about three or four.

maddyone Sat 09-Nov-19 09:23:20

I remember many of the ones already mentioned, but not anything pre 1953 as that was when I was born.
I think the first I remember was the assassination of President Kennedy. I was ten years old at the time. I was at my Auntie’s house with my mum and returned home to find my dad glued to the (black and white) television, watching the news.

monkeebeat Sat 09-Nov-19 09:26:41

Suez!! Aden. From the news on the radio (either home service or the light programme) and headlines in the newspaper made me aware of world issues and Aberfan brought home to me that bad things happen to children.

Juliet27 Sat 09-Nov-19 09:27:16

I remember hearing about Everest, the London smog and the Lynmouth flood disaster of 1952 Shysal I had the coach and horses too...think i’ve still got it somewhere!! My main memory of coronation day was sitting on my dad’s shoulders on the way to the village celebrations. I was 4

Minerva Sat 09-Nov-19 09:28:02

The wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten in 1947 when I was five, nearly 6. We had no newspaper and the radio was out of bounds except for children’s programmes so only ever heard ‘good’ news.

pen50 Sat 09-Nov-19 09:28:18

I lived in India when I was young. First news memory, shortly after my fifth birthday, was of the Sino-Indian of 1961, which lasted about a month. With a hazy grasp of geography I was convinced Chinese soldiers were going to show up in Bombay.

lovebeigecardigans1955 Sat 09-Nov-19 09:28:35

I remember Aberfan and wondering why Mum found it so very upsetting as she didn't actually know any of the children involved but of course now I do, and President Kennedy's assassination.
On a lighter note, the Beatles going to America.

JessK Sat 09-Nov-19 09:30:52

I was only three but I can remember my parents, aunt and uncle going up to London to see the coronation parade and I sat and watched on a grainy black and white TV with my gran. I can remember it was raining but it didn't seem to dampen anyone's spirits..

Damdee Sat 09-Nov-19 09:31:44

Same as Flexible Friend - Moors Murders - I remember seeing the word MURDER splashed in huge letters on the newspaper which I could obviously read but didn't really know what it meant. I had to look up when this happened but found it was '63 so I was 6 years old.

eebeew Sat 09-Nov-19 09:31:55

Kennedy being assassinated. I was an aupair in France and I heard it on the radio. It meant nothing to me but myFrench family were so shocked that I was worried that I might have mistranslated it,

henetha Sat 09-Nov-19 09:33:05

I was 8 when WW2 ended so I remember it well, the street parties, the huge relief and celebrations. Before that I remember the voice of Churchill and other leaders on our crackly old radio.

Twopence Sat 09-Nov-19 09:33:22

I remember the sinking of the SS Flying Enterprise and the news reel footage of Captain Carson who stayed with ship until the last minute. I was 9.

4allweknow Sat 09-Nov-19 09:36:44

Coronation. Didn't have a telly but remember the plastic type mug (still have it somewhere) school children were given along with small new testament and all the flags decorating streets.

Humbertbear Sat 09-Nov-19 09:37:33

Like Elegran, I remember the conquer of Everest . My sister was born the day the news came through. I watched the coronation (I had tonsillitis). But I also remember the death of Queen Mary. I was 3 and a half but remember seeing her photo on the front of the newspaper. I also remember the Guy Mitchell song. My dad said I used to sing it.

tw1nkle Sat 09-Nov-19 09:37:34

Kennedy assassination. I was in infant school, there was a girl in my class with the surname Kennedy, I thought it must be her dad. x

Tigertooth Sat 09-Nov-19 09:38:03

Elvis dying, me on floor, parents on sofa, can picture it clear as day, mum really upset, me asking who Elvis was and uncles and aunts ringing throughout the evening to discuss.
I don’t know how old I was, about 8 I think.

Yolostela Sat 09-Nov-19 09:39:30

First man on the moon, we watched it at school

Emerald888 Sat 09-Nov-19 09:39:56

Moors murders. Aberfan. Moon Landings. 1966 world cup win not remembered at all! Only the Mascot World Cup Willy!

Twopence Sat 09-Nov-19 09:40:02

Sorry the captain's name was Carlsen not Carson.

Tigertooth Sat 09-Nov-19 09:40:12

Mum remembers the radio saying ‘London is alight’ in the radio when she was evacuated, she thought that London was her street because she knew she lived in London. She was sobbing and therefore given a smack and sent to bed.

Jillybird Sat 09-Nov-19 09:42:03

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Zeddy Sat 09-Nov-19 09:43:41

I was getting married the week after. My mum woke me up very gently to tell me about Elvis, she was afraid of postpone the wedding!

Chewbacca Sat 09-Nov-19 09:44:44

The first clear, and distinct memory of national news that I remember, was hearing on the wireless that Winston Churchill had died. I was 10 or 11.

Neilspurgeon0 Sat 09-Nov-19 09:48:55

Cuba missile crisis, we had to write an essay about the island at school

Alexa Sat 09-Nov-19 09:49:27

My parents despising Oswald Mosley and his fascists.