140 Sailing cruisers at London Boat Show

[johnalison]

I was at the 1974 show at Earls Ct when the IRA bomb went off.
We were given a warning and I went out the nearest emergency exit and after a few minutes BANG.
We then all wanted to go back in but were not allowed!

My young son and I were there the same day. Like you, we left, but went to the station and didn't hear anything. A lady who worked with us was standing the other side of the pillar where the bomb went off. It took her a week or two to get her hearing back. Luckily for her, PTSD hadn't been invented then.

 

[PhillM]

The British builders didn't move with the times so got pushed out by the big production builders and that is what you see at theshow today.

I have it on good authority that the labour gov move to put a punishing rate of VAT on lesuire boats is what convinced 70s U.K. Boat builders to get out of the industry. Those that didn't perished.

Remember 98% tax rates anyone? I personally never had to pay the, cause I was too young and I've always been too poor!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...s-haunted-by-the-sound-of-squeaking-pips.html

 

[LittleSister]

We went to Earls Court on the evening of our wedding

You sure know how to give a gal a good time!

 

[johnalison]

I have it on good authority that the labour gov move to put a punishing rate of VAT on lesuire boats is what convinced 70s U.K. Boat builders to get out of the industry. Those that didn't perished.

Remember 98% tax rates anyone? I personally never had to pay the, cause I was too young and I've always been too poor!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...s-haunted-by-the-sound-of-squeaking-pips.html

Yes, the '70s were pretty awful, though personal advancement helped me weather them. I can't remember the date when VAT was imposed, but a popular boat name of the time was "Novat".