We are now in the seventieth anniversary year since the Shrine of Saint Jude was founded on 28 October 1955. Here is a run down on what else was happening for Britain that year.

On 25 January, details were relased of a £1,240 million plan to electrify the railways; new motorways are also being planned ready for 1956. 

Across the country, there was concern about "Teddy Boys". Their flamboyant imitation of "Edwardian" fashion - slicked-back hair, long coats with velvet collars and 'drainpipe' trousers - was not the only cause of concern. Several cities reported disturbances as there were violent flares between rival gangs. In Bath, sixteen "Teds" were arrested on 28 May 1955 after trouble at a dance hall. 

On 27 July 1955, the Clean Air Bill was published. It was an attempt to banish forever the London pea-souper whose last major appearance in December 1952 brought the capital to a halt and killed 4,000 people. Once the bill was passed, it restricted the use of coal on domestic fires, establish smokeless zones and raise the chimneys of power stations. It cut dramatically deaths from bronchitis and other respiratory complaints. 

Gibbs SR toothpaste was the first commercial ever shown on television when ITV started on 22 September 1955. The BBC knowing that people may turn to ITV for this momentous occassion made sure that there was a better alternatice through an episode of Donald Duck on BBC1 and an exciting spisode of The Archers on radio. You can watch the advert below!

Donald Campbell set a new world record for water speed - 202.32mph - at Ullswater in the Lake District. 

By the end of the year, the two wartime leaders Winston Churchill and Clement Atlee had left frontline politics. Churchill resigned as PM in April and in December Atlee resigned. 

A busy year, but one that also gave us the Shrine of Saint Jude!