A pictorial summary of British lifestyle in 1968

1968

1968

The "swinging sixties" saw great changes in how we lived, worked and enjoyed our leisure-time. In 1960 most people didn’t own a fridge, a telephone or a car. Holidays were mostly in the UK - often at purpose-built holiday camps, like Butlins (Barry Island or Minehead). Bus and coach travel was still how most working folk travelled with tens of millions of us onboard every day. During the 15 years that our Ruby was in service many major events took place, which brought us more to the modern life we enjoy today.

The images (below) are the front covers of BUSES magazine from 1968. They give you an idea of the types of buses in use that year.

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You can view the ASSOCIATED MOTORWAYS' express routes that Ruby operated in 1968, when new.

Details of the main bus and coach operators in south east Wales in 1968 can be viewed on the Other operators page.

The pictures (below), give you a flavour of what life in Britain was like in 1968.

SMK 760F

In 1968 the last of the iconic AEC Routemaster double deck buses was built for London Transport.
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City of Cardiff Transport

In 1968 CCT took delivery of their first rear-engined Daimler Fleetline double-deckers. The cities trollybuses only had 18 months in service.
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Bristol VRT double decker

In late 1968 the first of Bristol's new VRT double deck buses chassis started to come off the production line.
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Bristol VRT chassis

Bristol Commercial vehicles launched their new VRT double deck bus chassis October 1968.
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Bristol LH small bus

Early examples of the Bristol LH and LHS chassis had this flat-fronted Eastern Coach Works body.
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Bristol LH bus chassis

In 1968 the first of Bristol's LH small, lightweight bus chassis were built.
Advert: July '68 BUSES magazine.
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National Bus Company

November 1968 the Transport Act became law - this created the state-owned National Bus Company on 1st January 1969.
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British Leyland Ltd

In 1968 Leyland Motors (bus & truck manufacturer) merged with British Motor Corporation (car marker), to become British Leyland Ltd.
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Bus Drivers badge

All bus drivers in the 1960's were issued with and had to wear these Public Service Vehicle licence badges.
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Ford Escort

Ford launched the 'Escort' family car in Britain in January 1968.
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Ford Transit van

The 100,000th 'Transit' van was built in 1968 - managers at the Ford factory celebrated this milestone.
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Ford machinists strike

On 7 June 1968 sewing machinists' at Ford's Dagenham factory went on strike for equal pay.
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OS road maps

Before the internet and Sat nav - drivers used OS maps to find their route.
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BR's last steam train

On 10 August 1968 locomotive 'Oliver Cromwell' hauled British Rails last steam train.
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Ladybird: How It Works

This Ladybrid book explained how the new diesel and electric locomotives worked.
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Blue Peter Annual 1968.

BBC Blue Peter presenters in 1968 were: Peter Pervis, Valarie Singleton and John Noakes.
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HTV logo.

Harlec Television was launched in South Wales in May 1968.
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Mexico Olympics 1968.

October 1968 the Mexico Olympics were held - this "groovy" logo was used for the event.
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Welsh Rugby journal - June 1968.

A typical sport publication of 1968.
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Contemporary home interior.

Households were becoming ever more colourful.
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Old £ S D coins.

By 1968 the British Government had agreed that the old Pounds, Shillings and Pence coinage would be replaced by a decimal system in 1971.
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1968 £1 note (front).

Front fo a 1960's (paper) pound note.
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1968 £1 note (back).

Rear of a 1960's (paper) pound note.
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I'm Backing Britain

In January 1968 Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson launched the "I'm Backing Britain" campaign.
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Prime Minister 1968: Harold Wilson (Labour).

Labour Prime Minister of 1968, Harold Wilson.
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Film, tv & pop chart toppers in 1968.

See how many of the chart-toppers from 1968 you know.
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Yellow Submarine

The Beatles film: 'Yellow Submarine' debuts in London in July 1968.
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Dansette record player.

The latest pop chart hits were played on Dansette record players - a popular choice for youngsters of the period.
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New Bond Street, London.

Fashion & tranport of the late 1960's, including an AEC Regent (RT) bus.
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GPO telephone 746 model 1968.

Telephones were still a luxury item in 1968 and few homes had their own 'phone. This is the GPO standard 'phone of the period.
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Walls ice cream

A trip to the seaside in the 1960's called for a Walls ice cream. Remember this logo?
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A typical personal typewriter from the 1960's.

Long before lap-top computers, if you needed to type a letter you'd use a manual typrewritter like this.
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