LOCAL HISTORY
Pic: Paul Lindsay
The new galleries at Milton Keynes Museum
A passport to the new town
The Museum is fortunate to be offered lots of historical bits and pieces that help us to accurately tell the story of Milton Keynes, but sometimes it is the smallest items that prove to be the richest of deliveries.
W
e were thrilled to be gifted a Passport to Milton Keynes information pack by local resident Wendy Carpenter recently, which throws a light on the blossoming new town in 1979. The packs were given to residents on their 18th birthday, introducing them to the delights of new town living with a range of leaflets exploring services, facilities and opportunities in the area. In an introductory letter, Albert Eley, the Mayor of Milton Keynes wrote: 'The leaflets are designed to show you the immensely varied opportunities to develop new skills and make 30
new friends, whether you have grown up in the Borough or are relatively new to the area. They are an invitation to you to become personally involved in those aspects which appeal to you most, perhaps helping to run local organisations and societies. There are many ways in which new voters can enjoy and influence life in Milton Keynes, making it more pleasant for us all...' In 1979, there was no multiplex cinema, no ski-slope, no vast office blocks and if you did want to hook up with your pals, you would have organised things without the ease of mobile phones and social media. But no-one will have missed mobile phones, because they weren't a factor in 1970s living. Back then, things were much simpler, but MK was already making its own way, and writing its own headlines. In 1979, the centre:mk opened its doors, and the glass mall marked a new era in shopping locally. The complex was the longest shopping centre in Europe, and catered for all your requirements under the one roof – what a novelty! Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was on hand to officially open the building.
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