Photo: Helen Bailey

On a dark, wet evening in February, ladies of Reepham WI were transported back to the bright days of the 1960s and 70s.

Angela Bishop, who has previously presented to the Sunshine Memory Café, brought along an array of nostalgic mementoes, reminding many of those present of their carefree, teenage years.

I wonder how many of today’s teenagers have seen LPs, portable box record players, chrome-adorned Vespas or original Mini Coopers? – with the obligatory Union Jack roof, of course!

The import of American “pop” took over from the big bands of our parents’ generation, with British artists such as Dusty Springfield, Cliff Richard then the Beatles and Rolling Stones among others ruling the airwaves.

A number of women shared their encounters with their favourite “crush”, the hours spent listening to the offshore “pirate” Radio Caroline and on Saturdays bopping away to the latest hits in record-shop booths. Top of the Pops and Ready Steady Go were the programmes to watch for the latest dance craze.

Fashion took a huge leap from the frumpy attire of the post-war years to girls wearing daring mini skirts, hot pants, knee-high white boots and into the 70s with hippy, “boho” styles. Icons such as Twiggy, Mary Quant and latterly Barbara Hulanicki of Biba led the way.

Angela brought a selection of vintage dresses, probably similar to those taking pride of place in our wardrobes back in the day; these memories caused much hilarity.

This was also a decade of more freedom for women globally. Gloria Steinem in America and Germaine Greer in the UK were social and political activists, promoting feminism and equality – campaigns which still continue to this day in sectors such as the workplace and sports.

All and all, we all agreed it was great fun being part of the “Swinging Sixties”.

Reepham WI meets at 7.30 pm on the third Thursday of the month at St Michael’s, Reepham. On 20 March our speaker will be Phyllida Scrivens, giving a talk on the Great Thorpe Railway Disaster of 1874.

Dee Taylor