THE NORTH STAR housing association, which now has more than 4,000 homes across the Tees Valley, County Durham and North Yorkshire, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, having been formed in 1974. Was 1974 a vintage year? Well, you decide – it was certainly a year packed with historic events..
. January 1: Due to mining and railway strikes, Edward Heath’s government announces the three day week: commercial users of electricity were only allowed three consecutive days of consumption and TV had to stop broadcasting at 10.30pm 15: In the US, Happy Days, featuring the Fonz – Henry Winkler – made its debut on ABC 20: The first English professional football match is played on a Sunday: Millwall beat Fulham 1-0 in the Second Division 22: Nike is granted a trademark for its iconic logo, the swoosh 30: Actress Olivia Colman ( below ) is born in Norwich February 1: British detectives capture Ronald Biggs who was on the run following the 1963 great train robbery in Rio de Janeiro – but he can’t be extradited because his Brazilian girlfriend was pregnant 4: US heiress, Patty Hearst (above) , is kidnapped by left wing terrorists of the Symbionese Liberation Army, for whom she later carries out an armed bank robbery 13: Robbie Williams is born 28: Edward Heath, the Conservative Prime Minister, was clinging to power after a general election ended in Britain’s first hung parliament since 1929 March 4: Heath was unable to form a coalition with Jeremy Thorpe’s Liberal P.
