8.2: Cultural and Social Changes
British Culture and Literature
Dylan Thomas (1914–1953)
Dylan Thomas was a renowned Welsh poet and writer, known for his public performances of his work, including readings for the BBC. Among his most celebrated works are the radio play Under Milk Wood, first performed after his death in 1954, and the poem Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night, written for his dying father in 1952. Thomas passed away at the age of 39 in New York, but his legacy endures, with memorials in his birthplace, Swansea, including a statue and the Dylan Thomas Centre.
Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night
“Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
— Dylan Thomas
Migration in Post-War Britain
Rebuilding and Labour Shortages
Rebuilding Britain after the devastation of the Second World War was a monumental task. Labour shortages meant the British government actively encouraged workers from Ireland and other parts of Europe to come to the UK to help with the reconstruction. In 1948, workers from the West Indies were also invited to assist (the “Empire Windrush” generation).
Throughout the 1950s, the UK continued to face labour shortages, and immigration was further encouraged to address the economic needs of the country. Industries such as transport and textiles actively recruited workers from overseas. For about 25 years, people from the West Indies, India, Pakistan, and later Bangladesh came to work and settle in Britain.
Social Change in the 1960s
The Swinging Sixties
The 1960s marked a period of substantial social change in Britain, commonly referred to as the ‘swinging sixties’. The decade saw a flourishing of British fashion, cinema, and popular music. Two of the most famous pop music groups of the time were The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
Social Reforms
The 1960s was also a time of social liberalisation. Significant changes were made to the laws governing divorce and abortion in England, Wales, and Scotland. Parliament passed new laws during this period, granting women the right to equal pay and making it illegal for employers to discriminate against women based on gender.
Technological Advances
The 1960s witnessed remarkable technological progress. Britain and France jointly developed Concorde, the world’s only supersonic commercial airliner. Architectural styles shifted toward the use of concrete and steel, leading to the construction of high-rise buildings.
Some Great British Inventions of the 20th Century
Britain has a long history of innovation. These inventions are frequently mentioned in the Life in the UK test:
- Television: John Logie Baird (1920s). First broadcast between London and Glasgow in 1932.
- Radar: Sir Robert Watson-Watt (1935).
- Radio Astronomy: Sir Bernard Lovell and the Jodrell Bank telescope.
- Computing: Alan Turing’s Turing machine (1930s).
- Insulin: Co-discovered by John Macleod.
- DNA: Structure discovered by Francis Crick and others in 1953.
- Jet Engine: Sir Frank Whittle (1930s).
- Hovercraft: Sir Christopher Cockerell (1950s).
- ATM (Cashpoint): James Goodfellow (1967). First used by Barclays.
- IVF: Sir Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe. First “test-tube baby” born in 1978.
- Cloning: Dolly the Sheep (1996) by Sir Ian Wilmot and Keith Campbell.
- MRI Scanner: Sir Peter Mansfield.
- World Wide Web: Sir Tim Berners-Lee (1990).