This August David Ings takes a brief look back to life 60th years and the new fangled ideas back then…
Langdowns’ 60th Year anniversary! Some achievement, I think, for an independent business of any sort in this day and age to have survived and prospered when large organisations have swallowed up like-sized businesses across the country. Just shows that real expertise with the close involvement by its owners in the business can still be a recipe for success
I thought I would look back to get a feel of life in 1954. I had just arrived on the scene (A coronation baby in 1953) and some might say just as useful then as I am now with anything of a mechanical or digital nature! The year when the first 4 minute mile was run by Roger Bannister, the publication of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the arrival of Bill Haley and Rock and Roll. On a more sinister subject, the year that communist leader, Ho Chi Minh returned to North Vietnam after an eight year exile and we all know what happened after that!
I felt somewhat guilty when looking back that I hadn’t found any facts that had some relevance to the accountancy industry so Googled – taxation in 1954 and cost of living in 1954. I spent ages looking for something as I unexpectedly found very little going back that far. I managed to extract something before I got worried that the wife would no longer believe that I was ‘surfing’ the net for websites on this enquiry and not more dubious subject matter. For the sake of maintaining our long and successful relationship, there is not a lot more I can tell you other than:
1) Some crazy French guy ‘invented’ VAT
2) Estate duty (pre-curser of Inheritance Tax) started on estates over £10,000!!
3) Corporation Tax for companies was still 11 years away. Changed from income tax charge in April 1965.
There have certainly been many changes over those 60 years. The most revealing I found was that in 1954, food rationing after World War II finished (we must have struggled to get enough to eat before then) and we are now told two thirds of us are obese and will certainly perish through some ailment directly attached to our new found life style
One last fact – Germany won the Football World Cup – So little has changed really!!
Here’s to the next 60 years and just hope that accountants will still be needed then and another blog will be relevant in 2074.
