1957: BRITISH SUNDAYS - Should We Have More FREEDOM? | Panorama | Voice of the People | BBC Archive

"For years the British Sunday has amazed foreigners, for years the British themselves have argued over it."
Christopher Chataway reports on the British Sunday, when theatres, shops and restaurants are closed and most sporting events are prohibited.
Some people - like actor Jack Warner, who is the president of the Sunday Freedom Association, a group advocating for reform of the Sunday Observance Act - want the laws relaxed, so that charitable events can take place on Sundays. Others - like Harold Leggerton, secretary of the Lord's Day Observance Society - feel that, if anything, the current laws need to be stricter, to ensure that Sundays are preserved as a day of rest.
Clip taken from Panorama, originally broadcast on BBC Television, Monday 30 September, 1957.
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[@camerachica73]

I'm in Spain and Sundays are still quiet with most shops closed. It's wonderful as families spend time together outside, having lunch or on the beach instead of shopping.

[@SubtraxionStudio]

Not as much as they did 20 years ago. Just come back from fungeriola and Sunday is just like any other day. 20 years ago they would dress up and go out for family dinners I didn't see so much of it there in the past years. Not discreding all of Spain 😊

[@lordatkinson2046]

That's if the beach is not full of brits destroying the place. For some reason the same thing happens in the UK as well whenever a slight bit of sun comes out

[@HarryInEdi]

Fascinating - I love how the Lord’s Day Observance Society has offices on Fleet Street, and their position is so uncompromisingly strict! The secretary’s interview is amazing.

[@Hans-gb4mv]

They still exist 😮

[@tonys1636]

@@Hans-gb4mv But failed to succeed, one thing I would change about modern Sundays is allowing supermarkets including petrol station shops to be open, small independent yes but not national chains. One doesn't need to go shopping on a Sunday with online and deliveries nowadays.

[@jumpstar9000]

I used to love walking around London on a Sunday, it was so quiet and peaceful

[@andrewsundell2502]

I was born in 1950, a typical Sunday was church in the morning and the family Sunday lunch after Father arrived home at 12.30 on the dot from his lunch time drink at the Rose & Crown. The afternoon for me was usually playing football in the street or getting into mischief! Must return home by 4 pm for the Sunday ceremony of afternoon tea. The above you might think to be very middle class, no, we were a typical Northern working class family, and my Father was not a tool maker!

[@andrewd.conard5088]

Thank you for sharing. Here in the U.S., it was common for most businesses to be closed on Sunday up until the 1980s. A Sunday mid day meal with family was also common.

[@pcoristi]

For those who work the 9 to 5 weekday routine it is definitely a plus to not have to rush around on a Saturday trying to get all your weekly shopping done. BUT at the same time I do miss quiet Sundays. Especially in our 24/7 never ending consumer crazed culture. The peace that descended during the initial Covid lockdown was eye-opening. The lack of traffic and the amazing quiet made my body feel more relaxed than it had been in years. And despite the stress and uncertainty of Covid I actually slept better than I had in years.

[@halfbakedproductions7887]

I've been in my full time career for 14 years. Never once had a problem with just doing my food shopping on a quiet weekday evening, or on my way home from work at 6pm or so. I still don't understand the mad weekend scramble because even if your home life doesn't accommodate mid-week evening shopping too well (maybe you work shifts, or you've got young kids who are in bed very early) you can still get a delivery. Go at the weekends to find you can barely get parked and there's nothing left on the shelves. Weekends are for chilling or at least throttling life back, unfortunately we're expected to use them to catch up on domestic admin we didn't have time for during the week. Who the hell wants to get up at 7am on a Saturday to scrub the toilet and hoover the lounge?

[@snowdog9954]

​@@halfbakedproductions7887 the comment refers to how shops were closed on Sundays - at this time they were also closed in the evenings (except for some late night Thursdays or corner shops) so Saturday would be the only time for many people to do the shopping be it grocery, clothes etc. 'Deliveries' would be daily from the milkman for most essentials.

[@grahamc887]

I can well remember in the 1960’s my dad as a train driver being one of the few men working on a Sunday and the looks be got from the neighbours as he left for or returned from work on his motorbike. The closest thing that I have seen to Sunday closing was the Covid lockdown the only difference was there was still delivery vans and many cars parked at the side of the road.

[@spockboy]

6 years after A Christmas Carol with Alistair Sim, and 6 years before The Beatles. Wonderful. Thanks for posting

[@SagaciousFrank]

The Beatles. 🤦🏻‍♂️😂

[@JD-eq4dp]

​@SagaciousFrank I expect you're Cliff Richard fan.

[@SagaciousFrank]

@@JD-eq4dp , no. I didn't realise there were only two choices and no other genres. 🙄

[@phillipcarter8045]

What are you doing watching this, it’s a Sunday .

[@Robdutton91]

Going one better, I’m watching it at work on a Sunday

[@ande100]

🤣🤣🤣

[@harryblack5041]

Are you in blackface...😅​@@ande100

[@matthewwilliams3827]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4nUiJeqqKukqcUsi=PD_iR5BAQkh5bwE7

[@markj.a351]

At work on break

[@PincoPallino-zh8wm]

I was a teen in the 80s and I hated quiet Sundays. For us kids it was the most boring day of the week, everything was closed. Now I live in a big city and I am glad I can pretty much do on Sunday what I do during the rest of the week

[@dandare1001]

I agree totally. I hated Sundays, as a child.

[@adrianparker-e9f]

When i was little in the 1970's Sunday was like a ghost town. Most people stayed in. My brother used to do bicycle races which were possible then as there wouldn't be any traffic on the roads.

[@AlexBloggFilm]

Won't someone think of Jack's sister, who can't do blackface on Sunday?

[@Greenwillow]

😂

[@andydixon2980]

🤣

[@johnathanryan2117]

Mr Jorkin does not exaggerate the imprudence of allowing his misdemeanours to be made public..

[@kJ922-h3j]

I know the poor thing 😂🤦‍♂️

[@Veni_Vidi_Vortice]

It's when I enjoy doing it most. Gets me funny looks from the neighbours though.

[@jameshardy6277]

As a kid in the 80s, I have fond memories of how quiet Sundays were. Sundays are chaos now and in some way worse than a weekday.

[@RBC0405]

Way worse. I still try and do the least amount possible on a Sunday. I did pop into town a few Sundays ago - it was busier than the Saturday!

[@matthewtrow5698]

Where? Where do you live that you generalise like this? I live in a big Town, just went out for a walk - very quiet. Also, when the weather is nice, I'd far rather see many people out enjoying the sunshine, than nobody around at all.

[@stevestannard6004]

So many cars now not only moving but parked and for me that ruins the look and feel of housing estates a feeling of constantly on the go and making noise. I enjoy looking at olde paintings of streets from a hundred years ago where there were no or few cars on display.

[@Vanu-i4o]

I used to hate Sundays because everything was closed and there was no internet to assume you..... But now I want these days back because every day feels the same.

[@nicholasbuttery511]

It changed in Britain in 1983 with Petrol Stations but only until the afternoon. It was classed as a necessary relief to stop roads being clogged up so the fuel outlets started selling all that you would find at a corner shop.

[@murphyxlol]

Ahh, so that’s the origin story of why petrol stations are stocked like corner shops?! That’s incredibly cool to learn. Thank you!

[@DaraM73]

Let’s go further and abolish Mondays!

[@Mick_Ts_Chick]

I'll second that motion! 👍🏻

[@Liofa73]

Are you a Boomtown Rat?

[@Mick_Ts_Chick]

@@Liofa73 When it comes to Mondays I am! Of course if we didn't work Mondays, then Tuesday would be like our Monday. I only have one solution - lottery win!

[@Happyinmyautotrail]

How lovely to have a day of rest. I remember Sundays being so lovely when I was small in the 70s. Always saw family and got together for meals. Now everyone goes shopping or is in work.

[@DisconnectedRoamer]

Yeah everywhere closed on just one of the 2 days off, great times 😂

[@matthewtrow5698]

Don't even attempt to generalise what people are doing, just because it's what you or YOUR family do. There's still very many people who rest on a Sunday. Besides, do you really think nobody went to work on a Sunday in the 1950's? Much of the working class still did!

[@Uruz2012]

​@@DisconnectedRoamerWhen each household had a person who was home during the weekdays to take care of things, it made more sense. Your weekends were for liesure or hobbies or home repair instead of being a mad rush to do a whole second job worth of stuff in 2 days.

[@Happyinmyautotrail]

@@matthewtrow5698 wow that’s a snippy and passive aggressive comment. Why? Why do you feel the need to do that? Has someone hurt you?

[@qfox16789]

Would you really rather an enforced day of rest than having the choice?

[@VulcanDriver1]

I was born in 1953. I loved quiet Sundays. In the 70s the roads were empty and it was a delight to drive fast in my sports car.

[@keithrose6931]

The well known and pain in the arse " Sunday driver "

[@shrinewitch]

How's Toad Hall?

[@MrBlaxjax]

There was probably less traffic generally back in the 70s. Quiet Sundays were simultaneously great and a bit of a pain. Hancock did one of his programmes on Sunday boredom back in the 50s. Absolutely nothing to do!

[@VulcanDriver1]

@@shrinewitch Very Nice thank you.

[@MrACOUSTICPETE]

Maybe we should start " community day " Sundays ,once a month , for all the good things we used to do on Sundays . Family get togethers , community projects , cultural celebrations, performances ,outings etc . Could be fun and something to look forward to ! 🤔

[@sandradelvecchio6894]

Because that would turn into all the different “minority” peoples making it all about how their pet projects are the most high. I’m sick of being politically preached at and that’s what “community projects” turn into now. We don’t clean up parks and have picnics, we protest and denigrate certain races or ideologies as oppressors. No thank you. Family time would be great.

[@another_pointless_account4130]

@@sandradelvecchio6894 Someone has been drinking the Daily Mail kool-aid it seems.

[@johnking5174]

The Republic of Ireland had a more relaxed nature to Sunday trading, especially areas close to the border with Northern Ireland. One prime example was the seaside town of Buncrana, County Donegal close to Derry City. Northern Ireland had the most strict Sunday trading rules, even pubs shut. Buncrana had everything open, and people from Derry flocked in their thousands to Buncrana on a Sunday usually on the bus to enjoy themselves.

[@halfbakedproductions7887]

It took until 1989 for Northern Ireland to have Sunday opening for pubs. And even today the Dutch border towns are full of German-plate cars on a Sunday because Germans are looking for something to do.

[@johnking5174]

@@halfbakedproductions7887 How strange. 1989. That is far too restrictive. The English licensing laws for pubs back then had a lunchtime opening and then reopen in the evening. Usually 8 hours of drinking per day. So it may not have been a free for all, but at least they were open.

[@RolandoRatas]

Morrisey watched this film reel and thought to himself that every days like Sunday.

[@76ToneCrome]

Great song, great video.

[@mogznwaz]

And of course it has no meaning now because Sunday isn’t different. Shows how different life is now

[@JJONNYREPP]

1957: BRITISH SUNDAYS - Should We Have More FREEDOM? | Panorama | Voice of the People | BBC Archive 1024am 22.9.24 he didn't!! he was contemplating music hall and the outre act: thomas kritchley's living soap...

[@sjfvideo9508]

He would probably like to cancel Sundays like he does his gigs.

[@JJONNYREPP]

@@sjfvideo9508Comments on ‘1957: BRITISH SUNDAYS - Should We Have More FREEDOM? | Panorama | Voice of the People | BBC Archive’ 1406pm 2.9.24 gigs? yerv lost me... sunday rock concerts? i think i must have been to a gig on a sunday... sunday's nice as a leisurely day. no rushing about etc... that's why i'd let shops close if the staff wanted to have that day off. seems reasonable... i doubt the nation would starve for one day or afternoon... still; where would people be without the offy being open of an xmas when you needed some icing sugar or whisky or to buy that late anniversary card..?

[@Greenwillow]

Watching just before I go to work as a Sunday worker.😉

[@johnking5174]

Television on a Sunday in 1957 was also very restricted. Until 1958, the 6.00pm to 7.30pm slot had to be closed down, to allow people to go to Sunday evening services. That was amended in 1958 to allow "only religious programming" to air in that 90 minute slot. Also "no entertainment especially those appealing to children" to air before 3pm. Adult educational programming would soon fill a lot of Sunday TV too.

[@halfbakedproductions7887]

Up until around 1972 or so, TV was only allowed to be on air for around 7 and a half hours per day and there was no commercial radio. The BBC didn't have any breakfast programming until the early 1980s and only did a 24 hour broadcast for the very first time during the 1984 Olympics.

[@johnking5174]

@@halfbakedproductions7887 It is strange how restrictive the British government was over television and radio back then. Feels very paternalistic. Something which strangles TV. 7.5 hours of television a day! In the US in 1972, the three main networks NBC, CBS and ABC were all on air by at least 6.30am and carried on non-stop until around 1am/2am. It was money for them. You don't have gaps or close downs during the day as British television had.

[@2511dhall]

Christopher Chataway was the man responsible for Commercial Radio in the UK.

[@jdm65]

And before that, a distinguished long distance runner.

[@tvtimes3402]

Trust me During the first lockdown in March 2020 If you lived in Soho Every day was like a Sunday in fact everyday was like Christmas Day, absolutely dead, I cannot describe to you in words how wonderful it was, It was the best time of my life.

[@LateStart1]

Miss those quiet Sundays, empty streets, walking with a young lady window shopping, talking about all the things we could perhaps one day afford to buy! Picnics in a park or on a country walk, perfectly safe and hardly anyone else about! Double time at work if you were one of the folk who kept the wheels turning, often I chose to work a Sunday, extra money and a day off in the week as compensation...almost impossible to believe now! A lost civilization sadly!

[@GaryJohnWalker1]

Despite the massive changes I still feel Sunday as the boring and awkward day before the school/work seek. Least favourite day even though it's a 'day off'. And I'm 67

[@reginaseelaIam]

i am 67 as well and loved sundays, family lunch , listening to radio comedy, playing wid the neighbours kids, listening to irish gigs in pubs ect ect,,,,sundays were chill out days

[@andydixon2980]

Oh black and white Britain you look so homely and friendly. Sunday papers and church, maybe a Sunday stroll instead of 'black face' then back for roast dinner was the 'norm'.

[@GrahamMacdonald-w9o]

I grew up in Scotland, where Sunday restrictions were never imposed as they were in England and Wales. Therefore this documentary reminds me of when events outside London recieved scant coverage on the BBC. That having been said, and I can only remember back to the late 1960s, when few shops were open on Sundays in Edinburgh other than newsagents or butchers; places like Halfords (then called FW Rushbrooke) and B&Q (then called Dodge City near us). I do remember going to Sunday motor racing at Ingliston back then though. Asda opened its first 'hypermarket' ten minutes' walk from our house in April 1971 (officially opened by the Queen Mother, such was its novelty then) and it was open on Sundays but closed on Mondays. Being only one of two big supermarkets in the whole of Edinburgh, the Asda store was jam-packed with customers most Sundays, as there were few other things to do. While I totally disagree with him, I admire Harold Leggerton's ability to get across arguments to support his point of view but he sounds like someone today from the United Free Presbyterian Church in Lewis in the Western Isles. While nearly all of Scotland has been fairly relaxed about activities on Sundays, Lewis is still very strict.

[@WhatHoSnorkers]

I remember Sundays as being rubbish. "no television on Sunday". Well you don't have to turn the television on mate.

[@JohnNeil-i9c]

I remember growing up in the 60s and 70s,and to me Sundays sucked,they were long drawn out depressing days,oh and it always seemed to be raining.

[@SagaciousFrank]

Not boring, peaceful.

[@CricketEngland]

I remember when you could walk down the main street in my local town in the 70/80’s and no shops (apart from Halfords) would open and you wouldn’t see a single person. I worked at Halford in the cycle department on many a Sunday and you would be lucky if you got 1 person in the shop all day and it was so boring. Now in 2024 Sunday is just as same as Monday thru Saturday

[@DisconnectedRoamer]

Sounds terrible

[@matthewtrow5698]

Depends where you live. The large town where I am, pubs, supermarkets and restaurants open. All other shops closed. Thank goodness there's something to do on a Sunday. How awful it would be to not be able to go out and see people and do things.

[@andymerrett]

Wow, the chap at the end looks as if he's getting angrier and angrier. :)

[@GreenJimll]

I can remember as a child the dull tedium of Sundays, especially in the winter when it was cold and wet and you'd be stuck indoors playing or reading or watching whatever dross they manage to put on the TV (except Songs of Praise of course - that was to be avoided!). We really need to rump of the Sunday trading laws swept away so that it becomes a fully normal, useful day of the week.

[@shrinewitch]

Guy at the end really hates fun 😂😂😂

[@Hail_To_The_King]

I think it's good there's one day of the week not commercialised. What you do with your free day is still up to you

[@jaybenny7719]

I don’t miss being depressed on a Sunday, they were awful.

[@kevinmothers904]

Hancocks Half Hour.....Sunday afternoon at home....1958....sums up that time in the 50s perfectly.

[@pit_stop77]

I came here to add this very comment 😂

[@jimmeltonbradley1497]

I was born in 1951 and well remember the long dark tea-time of the soul that was Sunday afternoon. For me, as a youngster, it was gruesome. Today? (a Sunday in September 2024), it's just like any other day of the week. In fact, the Supermarkets are busier because its, often, the only day many people are able to do the weekly shop.

[@hopebgood]

I can remember boring Sundays in the 1980's when I was a teenager but me and my mates still had a laugh though.

[@ljchandler4876]

there should be some time when there are no pressures on people - to have the freedom to just be

[@SubtraxionStudio]

Most men would still rather be at work away from😂 The "misses"

[@dandare1001]

How about the freedom to go shopping? Nobody forces you to do anything on a Sunday.

[@chriswathen9612]

Anc you have no idea how much that 'freedom' might be a pressure on someone else if they can't access something they need because it's a Sunday. You don't get to decide what any ideal day is. If you want (and are able) to treat Sundays differently, no one is taking that away from you. But why should you have the right to determine that no one else is allowed to treat it as a normal day?

[@ICBMPIRATE2]

Lovely video, just had time to watch it before my third job at Tesco Sunday worker starts………financial gain?

[@grannyweatherwax9666]

We have somehow managed to run out of loo rolls, just got an hour or so to wait, so I'm glad of people like you working Sundays, thank you!

[@ICBMPIRATE2]

@@grannyweatherwax9666 that comes under merciful acts

[@Robdutton91]

@@grannyweatherwax9666hope you can hold it in long enough

[@growlerthe2nd712]

Back in the day when money wasn’t god 😢.

[@seanrm]

Wednesday afternoons too, in Bristol at least, many shops would be shut.

[@leswilcock7327]

I live now in rural france. Its lovely and quiet on a Sunday. Families get together.

[@Greenpoloboy3]

Calm. Family being together. Clean streets.

[@Drivingp]

We need to quiet Sunday more than ever❤

[@EnoVarma]

The weather was surprisingly nice on the day of the shoot.

[@robertdoyle687]

As a mark of respect in Ireland the pubs front door was always closed on a Sunday - the only thing was, the back door was wide open 😂

[@Steven_Rowe]

As a 1953 London boy Sundays were quiet, no shops etc and in many ways it was a day of forced rest regardless od Xpiritual beliefs which at best were never held in high regard. 40 years ago I did a diploma in electronic, I struggled with the ,maths as some of it such as calculus I never did at school. I went to see a counsellor as this was driving me mental. She said something very interesting to me,she said regardless of what I needed to do, one day a week you should down tools and rest. Now this day didn't have to be a Sunday but it is true that we need to wind down. Here we are 2024, people are impatient, they stress out if they can't go to the shops on hristians day, they panic buybecause they will starve to death. I believe now we were all better mentally when we had thatday of rest,there was also I think a strong community feeling in the air on Sundays. Even the pleasure of a stroll up the high road windows shopping was relaxing. Well we now got the Anerican dream, 24 7 shopping fast food and axense of urgency and impatience.

[@tomarmstrong1281]

I was seventeen in 1957. I can see clearly now how restrictive life was and how a certain cabal had an unacceptable level of control.

[@ArtJourneyUK]

Dixon! of Dock Green!

[@SagaciousFrank]

Real coppers, based on Peelian Principles.

[@whiteonggoy7009]

Soho strip joints was open and pubs from 12 to 2pm

[@whiteonggoy7009]

@@phillipcarter8045 cus I was there

[@harryblack5041]

You'll go to the bad fire...😮

[@DeannaAllison]

I'm in Austria. Almost all shops are closed - but if you really need something there are some shops open, for example at railway stations. Our local bakery is allowed to open because it is also home to a café. Small convenience stores at petrol stations may be open. You can't do anything noisy outside, for example lawn-mowing. The result is that Sunday is quiet, and I find that pretty pleasant, and I'm used to it.

[@andrewrussell4707]

Sunday is a day of reading newspapers and books. Occasionally a day in the garden, or a long walk with the dog. One thing it will never be in my household is anything to do with religion.

[@aclark903]

No God= no garden, no dog. 🐕

[@andrewrussell4707]

@@aclark903 you need to stop drinking on Sundays …. Your god has no influence on my dog or my garden.

[@dandare1001]

In Germany, shops are shut on Sundays, you aren't allowed to wash your car, vacuum clean your house, or mow the lawn. There are probably lots more rules. It's horrible and backward. Mr Ledgerton would love it.

[@martm216]

I was four years old when this programme was made. I remember Sundays far different from today's Sundays. The truth is, I don't know what to think on the subject. As a church-going believer, I see the argument for Sunday being a different day. But as the presenter suggested, what right have I to try to enforce my practices on others? And there have often been times when I have been grateful to find a restaurant or cafe open on a Sunday when I have been away from home, and needed a meal or small refreshment. I did like it when there was no sport on a Sunday and all the football fixtures were completed on a Saturday afternoon, instead of spread out all over the place. And I do try to avoid shopping on a Sunday, although again there are odd times when I am glad to be able buy some essentials on a Sunday . . .

[@downformaintenance]

It's interesting that in 1624 we were a bear baiting rabble. What drove the legislation of more civilised behaviour? Might find ourselves in that situation again? It's tempting to think of cultural change as moving in a straight line because we only experience a little bit of it, where in reality it can move more like a pendulum.

[@onlyme219]

I'm glad we've moved on, Sunday is just another day. That guy from the Lords Day movement wants us to sit at home and read books all day. No doubt he'd have a problem with which books we read

[@timjenkins8538]

I’ve always hated Sundays! They are depressing AF and everything closes early - why? Why close all the shops when most people are off work yet keep them open 9-5, Monday to Friday when most people are AT work? It makes no sense!

[@dandare1001]

I worked in Sweden a couple of years ago, and the supermarkets and DIY stores were open until 11pm on a Sunday. It was great.

[@artheemisia]

I still remember the time in Montreal when most stores were closed on Sundays, except for small corner stores… It was a nuisance

[@scottandrewbrass1931]

Oh dear!. Oh dear oh dear. Oh deary me.Stone me. What a life!

[@robmclaughjr]

Fun watch

[@colors6692]

The government should never have stopped people from doing “Blackface” on a Sunday!!!!

[@Michael-j4l3d]

Only the Sultan of Canada is allowed to do that these days.

[@user-ve3gh5xg9q]

Classic 🇬🇧

[@markiliff]

If only the charming, emollient Mr Leggerton's eminently sensible propositions had been carried into action!

[@ronanon9253]

As an American who spent a couple of years in London in the late 1980s it was quite boring that everything was shut down on a Sunday. In the US then as now there are reduced trading hours and some things close on Sunday, but it’s a choice of the business owner. I hadn’t realized it had been much stricter in the UK previously with the prohibition on sporting events, theater and the like. Most posters here are older so it would be interesting to hear what people born who have no recollection of the old days think. If folks want a quiet Sunday now they can choose to do as they please by not participating in shopping or other activities.

[@artofsam]

It’s strange that watching this is essentially satire now but to think there was once a time when dancing on a Sunday was “forbidden.”

[@andymerrett]

The irony being (not withstanding the different calendar we use now) that the "Lord's Day" (Sabbath) was/is Saturday...

[@halfbakedproductions7887]

Sundays were absolutely dire back in the old days. My parents remember it well and even Tony Hancock joked about taking a sleeping pill to wake up on Monday instead. Things are only slightly better now.

[@TheBrummie60]

Christmas Day has virtually become just another day.

[@MrMann0123]

Sunday necessity guy is fairly joyless.

[@brayster1979]

Sundays should be treated like any other day. Shops not allowed to open more than 6 hours and we complain that everyone shops online

[@Nick-zp3ub]

It's idiotic that all the shops and banks closed on Sunday when that's the day most working people are free to go shopping. Even today a lot of shops close early or don't open at all. I don't understand why they didn't stay open all weekend and closed one day of the week, such as Tuesdays

[@chriswathen9612]

So when would the people that work in retail go shopping? Only way forward is for every day to be the same but accepting that most people still work 5 days per week so will have 2 days when everything they might want to access will be available.

[@Nick-zp3ub]

@@chriswathen9612 Use your brain, genius. I've worked in retail and there's always two shifts. The early shift finish in the afternoon and the late shift finish at evening closing time. There's plenty of time to go shopping either before or after their shift

[@chriswathen9612]

@Nick-zp3ub ooohhdear....Anyway, Right, so shifts existing depends on the particular business, many/most retail establishments have all staff on an Open-Close if they're only open for 8-9 hours a day.

[@Nick-zp3ub]

@@chriswathen9612 So who brings in the early morning delivery before the store opens? And who tidies up after closing time? Most big stores let in their workers at 8 for the briefing, take in the delivery 2 or 3 days each week, open their doors at 9, and close at 8 in the evening. That leaves a couple more hours for staff to do stock checks, reorganise the shelves and count the money. You need at least two managers and two teams to run the shop for 12 or more hours

[@Teakai8]

Society chose mammon.

[@BsktImp]

Was going to pipe up my rose-tinted memories (although ironically quite justified!) of quiet Sundays with closed shops, but even these post-date the "no county cricket" here on which I grew up! Blimey!

[@pscollier1]

If we go back to 'Sundays' of old, they'll have to turn off the internet then. No online shopping, watching entertainment. My recollection is of often being incredibly bored as a kid, especially on those dark and drizzling Sundays.

[@halfbakedproductions7887]

My dad got stranded on a Scottish island in the 1970s following a wedding. We call it Sunday, those islanders called it "the Sabbath" and you couldn't do anything except church. No ferry crossings, so they stayed on. He and his friends nearly got lynched Wicker Man style for swimming in the sea. They had crisps for dinner because there was no food being prepared in their hotel. They knew this was going to happen, but they had no choice and just had to deal with it. Even now ferry crossings are minimal on a Sunday.

[@ryanking7787]

Back when everything wasn't decided by the economy. These days you're lucky if you get Boxing Day or New Year's Day off work. I will say it was far too strict though. At least now I can spend my Sunday's watching sport and enjoy my spare time.

[@michaeltomes2630]

I was a milkman i the early 80s sunday morning was my favourite time of the week...

[@00simonwise]

Sunday Night at the London Palladium had been, I'm assuming, going out live on itv since 1955. I wonder how Delfont and Grade got around that?

[@jannetteberends8730]

Businesses closed on Sunday isn’t typical English. It’s still the case in Germany. And was, until recently, in the Netherlands. I wouldn’t be surprised if the northern countries also close on Sunday.

[@dandare1001]

Sweden isn't so backward. There, the supermarkets are open until 11pm on Sundays. I don't know about their neighbours.

[@aaronhurst4379]

In Germany, it's socially unacceptable to do housework on a Sunday

[@MrGlewYouTubeChangedMyHandle]

As a child, I found this the most boring day of the week. Absolutely hated it. It was crap.

[@Ginger_Dalek]

I'm now jealous of my Grandparents whom were able to excerise and bait-bears on a Sunday.

[@Michaela1942]

It would seem to me that observing a quiet holy day ought to be left up to the individual person and their spiritual beliefs.

[@BOZ_11]

So they wedged charities in to open up Sundays to virtually the whole economy

[@Cool2BCeltic]

Sundays were boring in those days.

[@oninbridders]

And in 2024 large shops can still only open for 6 hours on a Sunday

[@joebryant5722]

And it's LIVE on sky!

[@ClearLight1967]

What a dreary place the UK used to be.

[@johnstanton8499]

Thats why we should have a four day working week leaving one day off for chores ,one day off for hobbies and one day off for Spirituality

[@TechnoMinded-qp5in]

As being born in the 90s I would probably be able to survive something like this a lot of less crime and drugs back then we should take everything away from everyone if everything gets out of control and send us back to the middle ages and a lot less pollution as well I remember before all this fancy technology I had nothing but a pocket watch and B B Gun when I was a kid shooting at soda cans.

[@trs4u]

"Sundays when I was a kid" compared to "Sundays now I'm grown up" is probably a bit confused: time passed and many things changed at the same time. I remember going to Wales by minibus at the weekend 30+ years ago, it was like arbitrary detention if fuel ran out. Rules based on made-up stuff should move on completely - Advertising Standards Authority ought to step in. 'Enforced rest' is antediluvian.

[@MrMann0123]

I remember a bit of this in the 70s through to early 90s. I feel it may have gone too far... most of the time but sometimes i feel quite the opposite.

[@gogosegaga]

This looks like another planet now. London is nothing like this now 😅

[@garyhills2336]

I hated Sundays, I was delighted when that outdated law was scrapped in 94, it was imposed thinking by one section on the majority. Religion should never interfere in how others want to live, if you want to observe Religious practices then people are free to do that, but it should not dictate to those who see the world differently. I would never want the old way back and society voted with their feet in shopping and other activities to show it was largely unwanted.

[@tjackson1210]

They forgot to eliminate freedoms on saturday too

[@richardsmith4992]

Mr. Ledgerton seems a barrel of laughs...

[@Call-me-Ishmael]

I love that Jack Warner (Dixon of Dock Green?) gave the example of his actor friend who was not allowed to black up on a Sunday. Political correctness gone mad!

[@drgigglesuk]

I thought I'd misheard him - unintentionally hilarious 😂😂

[@tonyhancock3912]

Lovely to see Jack Cholmondeley-Warner in such fine fettle

[@buffplums]

I always seem to remember the dreariness of Sunday, in the winter if the sky was grey and rain pissing down outside… then chances are if you stepped into a typical working class terraced house in the back streets of Liverpool you would be greeted with the smell of damp clothes drying by a miserable little coal fire lit in the front parlour… 😂…. Honestly, watching the movie Eraserhead was more soul lifting … oh my word…lol… BUT Ai still think Sunday should be different people should only have to work if they choose to … no one upon threat of losing their job should be made to work if they don’t want to

[@robertmartin6800]

Jesus, these old films of western towns and cities are just depressing...