Description

Combining the best news reports from the BBC and British Pathé archives. 1955 saw Donald Campbell become the fastest man on water and Stirling Moss the first British driver to win the Mille Miglia – and a terrible disaster at Le Mans 24-hour race. It was also a year which saw the resignation of Winston Churchill, the last execution of a woman in Britain, and the signing of the Warsaw Pact.

Full description from the producer:

Featuring original newsreel footage of key people and events that shaped 1955, including Donald Campbell’s speed record, Stirling Moss, the resignation of Winston Churchill, Ruth Ellis, Godfrey Evans, Brian Statham – and much more.
A Year to Remember, the classic series that recalls the definitive events of
the twentieth century, compiles contemporary news coverage drawn from the
world-famous BBC and British Pathé archives.

This programme details not only the major political issues that dominated the day, but also key social changes and cultural trends. This hour-long episode chronicles that remarkable year, 1955.

This was a year of triumph and tragedy. Donald Campbell became the fastest man on water and Stirling Moss became the first British driver to win the Mille Miglia. And when that great sports car event, the Le Mans 24-hour race, opened in brilliant sunshine, none of the quarter-million crowd suspected what lay ahead. In a few ghastly seconds, death wiped out whole families.

It was also a year which saw the resignation of Winston Churchill from the government, the last execution of a woman in Britain, and the signing of the Warsaw Pact.

1955 was certainly a year to remember.

Additional information