The three main characters are from Bootle where they return after the war. Bootle is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside, which had a population of 51,394 in 2011; the wider Parliamentary constituency had a population of 98,449. The town was heavily damaged in World War II with air raids against the port and other industrial targets. Post-war economic success in the 50’s and 60’s gave way to a downturn, precipitated by a reduction in the significance of Liverpool Docks internationally, and changing levels of industrialisation, coupled with the development of modern suburbs and the expansion of industries into the Merseyside hinterlands.
Iris’s husband, Tom, is a doctor, and he and his father and brother, who are also doctors, discuss the introduction of the National Health Service. Free healthcare at the point of use comes from the core principles at the founding of the National Health Service by the Labour government in 1948.
At some point the characters talk about Elizabeth Taylor, being a British refugee, being in the film “National Velvet”. Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor was born on February 27, 1932, at Heathwood. She received dual British-American citizenship at birth, as her parents were United States citizens. In early 1939, the Taylors decided to return to the United States due to fear of impending war in Europe. Taylor was cast in her first starring role at the age of 12, when she was chosen to play a girl who wants to compete in the exclusively male Grand National in National Velvet.
Nell has alcohol intolerance. Alcohol intolerance is due to a genetic polymorphism of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, the enzyme that metabolises ingested alcohol. Stuffy nose and skin flushing are the most common symptoms upon the ingestion of alcohol. It may also be characterized as intolerance causing hangover symptoms or chronic fatigue syndrome.
In London Maggie is employed by Thomas Cook. Thomas Cook & Son, originally simply Thomas Cook, was a company founded by Thomas Cook, a cabinet-maker, in 1841 to carry temperance supporters by railway between the cities of Leicester, Nottingham, Derby and Birmingham. In 1851, Cook arranged transport to the Great Exhibition of 1851. He organised his first tours to Europe in 1855 and to the United States in 1866.
In the first part of the book there are continuous references to rationing. Rationing was introduced temporarily by the British government several times during the 20th century, during and immediately after a war. On 8 May 1945, the Second World War ended in Europe, but rationing continued. Some aspects of rationing became stricter for some years after the war. Although rationing formally ended in 1954, cheese production remained depressed for decades afterwards.
There is a war with North Korea, and Ryan has to join the conflict. The Korean War was a war between North Korea (with the support of China and the Soviet Union) and South Korea (with the support of the United Nations, principally from the United States). The war began on 25 June 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea following a series of clashes along the border.
The king, George VI, died. The stress of the war had taken its toll on the King’s health, made worse by his heavy smoking and subsequent development of lung cancer among other ailments. on the morning of 6 February, he was found dead in bed at Sandringham House in Norfolk. He had died from a coronary thrombosis.
Elizabeth was crowned queen in 1953. The coronation of Elizabeth II took place on 2 June 1953 at Westminster Abbey. ] Elizabeth II ascended the throne at the age of 25 upon the death of her father, George VI, on 6 February 1952, being proclaimed queen by her privy and executive councils shortly afterwards.
In the elections the Labour Party won. The 1950 United Kingdom general election was the first general election ever to be held after a full term of Labour government. The election was held on Thursday 23 February 1950. Despite polling over 700,000 votes more than the Conservatives, and receiving more votes than they had during the 1945 general election, Labour obtained a slim majority of just five seat. Antley became the Prime Minister.
Later in the book Edward Heath became the Prime Minister. Sir Edward Richard George Heath (9 July 1916 – 17 July 2005), often known as Ted Heath, was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1974 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1965 to 1975.
Gary, Louise’s husband, dies in the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955[A 1] to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975.
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