The 1940s

It wasn't all bad news though, as this was a period during which in the face of adversity people were still determined to make the most of what they had, enjoying what they could in spite of rationing and difficult times. The black economy thrived, and it was still possible to get hold of the odd luxury item from "spivs" who peddled their wares on the streets (no questions asked !). It was a time when Dame Vera Lynn sang of "Bluebirds over the White Cliffs of Dover" (we don't have bluebirds in England, but nobody told the American songwriters that), and dance halls across the country reverberated to the big band sounds of Glenn Miller and the like. This was when dance crazes such as Swing Jive and Lindy Hop crossed the Atlantic, brought over by the "Yanks" - American soldiers stationed in Britain and often described disparagingly as being "Over paid, over sexed, and over here !"