A recent survey has revealed that the critical factors of a hot summer, brimming with fun means that 1976 was the best ever year to be a child. And conversely last year 2011 was voted the worst to be growing up, thanks to parents worrying about the cost of living and the safety of their kids. On balance as a kid in 1976 and an adult in 2011, I would concur with the findings of the survey – 1976 was fun, 2011 was thoroughly miserable!!

The great irony is that back in 1976 the UK was in a recession as bad as the current one!! The country in 1976 was not only in the grips of a climatic drought but an economic drought as industrial strikes, unemployment and a breathtaking 27% inflation rate brought the country to it’s knees!! However this was of little concern to the author as a 13 year old…….as long as there was no interruption in my pocket money and I could still afford my weekly copy of Record Mirror, The Beezer and The Topper comics, all was well with the world!!

According to the survey of 4,000 people from the age of eight to sixty, the criteria that define the perfect childhood year, revolve around bountiful hot weather, two hours of daily outdoor play, two family holidays and 46 minutes a day of home entertainment. On that basis, 1976 would appear to tick all the boxes with it’s eternal summer which was the hottest for more than 350 years – the temperature reached 80 degrees every day between the 22nd June and the 16th July. It was like living in California – every morning during my two month school holiday, I would pull back my bedroom curtains to be greeted by clear blue skies and endless glorious sunshine!!

Each day dawned with great hope and optimism and each day spawned a great adventure……..The only thing that was out of bounds in the sweltering heat of that blast furnace of a summer was the paddling pool, which was outlawed along with Dad’s garden hosepipe due to water rationing that saw the arrival of street standpipes in some parts of the country. Despite being limited to water fights with buckets and water pistols, we still had endless hours of outdoor fun in that Summer of 1976. The other criteria from the survey were also met for the Sterland Family with two holidays that Summer, at the family’s newly acquired cottage in the Lake District, although Dad’s daily walking regime was not overly popular in the energy sapping heat!! As for 46 minutes of home entertainment a day, that came courtesy of three TV channels in a world before computers, computer games and iPhones!! Once the sun had finally set on another long hot day, entertainment came in the form of The New Avengers, The Bionic Woman, Starsky & Hutch, Kojak, The Sweeney, Sale of the Century, Benny Hill Show, George & Mildred and Man About The House.

If the TV shows of 1976 do not evoke memories of the heatwave and drought summer, then the soundtrack provided by chart hits of July and August 1976 ( as abysmal as they were ) most certainly will……..

The Top 30 Biggest Hit Songs from the Summer Heatwave of 1976

Elton John & Kiki Dee – Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

Dr Hook – A Little Bit More

Abba – Dancing Queen

Sensational Alex Harvey Band – Boston Tea Party

Wings – Let ‘Em In

David Dundas – Jeans On

Tavares – Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel

Johnny Wakelin – In Zaire

Demis Roussos – Forever and Ever

Chi-Lites – You Don’t Have To Go

Rod Stewart – The Killing Of Georgie

Jimmy James & The Vagabonds – Now Is The Time

5000 Volts – Dr Kiss Kiss

Dorothy Moore – Misty Blue

Stylistics – 16 Bars

Manhattans – Kiss And Say Goodbye

Lou Rawls – You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine

Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel – Here Comes The Sun

Isley Brothers – Harvest For The World

Candi Staton – Young Hearts Run Free

Real Thing – You To Me Are Everything

100 Ton & A Feather – It Only Takes A Minute

Liverpool Express – You Are My Love

Queen – You’re My Best Friend

Billy Ocean – Love On Delivery

Starland Vocal Band – Afternoon Delight

Twiggy – Here I Go Again

Manfred Mann’s Earth Band – Blinded By The Light

KC & The Sunshine Band – (Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty

T Rex – I Love to Boogie

………..Everyone of those songs, evokes a time and a memory for me from that heatwave summer of 1976. And if at least one of those songs does not release a memory for you, clearly you were not around to enjoy the best year ever to be a kid!!!

Which are your favourite memories and songs from that long, hot summer of 1976? Let us know in the Reply Box below.

You can immortalise the “ritzy glitzy” 1970s in your own home or workplace / office, by buying a gaudy glitterball and ordering your favourite vinyl record; single, album or album cover; framed and mounted as a picture disc. ORDER NOW by clicking on…….. http://www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/

Alternatively this would make a unique present or original gift for a special celebration  ie a Wedding ( Wedding Song ), a 50th or 60th Birthday, a Silver or Ruby Wedding Anniversary, Father’s or Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day!! THE PERFECT PERSONALISED PRESENT!!