Heroes of the 1970s (General)

Member Name: maria14

Product:	General
Date:	28/03/09 (253 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: We were the best in the world at the Decathlon

Disadvantages: Its a Knockout was the highlight of the summer tv schedule

The 1970s are coming in for a bad press at the moment - particularly following the excellent Red Riding series on the television. I was a child who grew up in the 70s, and I have strong memories of my dad's car breaking down at least once a week, and the awful playgrounds with one swing and nothing but concrete, gravel and dog poo to break your fall.

But there were good things about the 1970s - even though with hinsight, some of them seem a bit dubious. So here are some of my heroes who got me through those dark times.

1. Stewart Hall - Its a Knock Out was what passed for tip top light entertainment in the 1970s- people dressed as giant milk maids carrying buckets of water across an obstacle course. Me and my family were such big fans, we travelled to Whitby one time to watch the show live. It was flipping freezing and me and my sister were wearing matching yellow shorts.
Stewart Hall was the star of this show, and was famous for laughing hysterically throughout. I don't know why I liked him - I just did.

2. Derrick Griffiths - the best children's programme as far as I was concerned was 'Playaway.' It was shown on a Saturday afternoon and was a mixture of singing and jokes. The presenters varied from week to week. If Derek Griffiths was on, you knew it was going to be a good one.
He had a kind face and a long bendy body - he was a handsome precurser to Mr Bean. He's still around, doing voice overs for kids programmes.

3. Roy Castle - Roy Castle was my absolute hero - he could play every musical instrument, he was a fantastic singer and dancer, and he looked like my dad. Everybody had a copy of the Guinness Book of Records - it was required reading during the 1970s, and it was every kids dream to be a world record holder. I always thought the McQuirter brothers, who were always on the programme for a question and answer spot, were a bit odd. But I adored Roy Castle.

4. Johann Cruyff - the 1970s were the era of the Dutch 'Total Football' revolution. I don't know how I, as a chubby faced addidas tracksuit wearing 10 year old, got so obsessed by them. All the lads down our street were mad about Kevin Keagan - but I never rated him and still don't. Johann Cruyff could skin the opposition, whilst directing his teamates where to run and argue with the ref in six different languages - all at the same time! Such was my age that this hero worship did eventually take the form of a girly crush. But I've seen footage of him since, and I still think he's one of the greatest.

5. Debbie Harry - surely still the greatest female rock star. Boys and girls - we all adored her - the way she looked, sang and dressed. The bitchy fashion magazines were always trying to tell us how old she was - I think she was already in her thirties when she shot to fame - but we were all too young to see it as relevant. She was just amazing - and the songs have stood the test of time.

6. Daley Thompson - they should have made Daley Thompson a Lord, not that posh tory plonker Seb Coe. Daley Thompson won EVERYTHING - a multi olympic gold medal winning decathlete, who even won Superstars and Question of Sport (I remember - he got EVERY QUESTION right, even when he went 'away' in the Home and Away round.) He was funny too. He had a main rival who could never quite beat him, this huge German chap with a dodgy moustache. During warm up, Daley would wear T shirts with cheeky slogans on them - like 'Is The World's Second Greatest Athlete Gay?'

7. Bernard Cribbins - there was a radio programme for children on a Saturday morning. I can't remember the name, but it was presented by Ed Stewart. They would play comedy songs for children - some of which were genuinely very funny. Bernard Cribbins did alot of these - Right Said Fred, and Diggin' an Ole. I loved the way he sang - his voice had a jazz lilt to it and the songs were great. I've seen him live since, and he is frankly, a bit grumpy.

8. Liam Brady - the only british based footballer I had any time for. I didn't support Arsenel, but I thought he was great.

9. Derek Randall - cricketer for England and Nottinghamshire. A brillliant batsman and a superb fielder. They used to show county cricket on a Sunday afternoon, and my dad would always watch. Boredom was a big factor in the 1970s - no computer games, only one TV channel per house and only three channels on that. But at least it taught me to appreciate county cricket.

Heroes of the 1970s - I've run out now. That's it - there were only nine!

Summary: Things are better now