Identity 42—55

see also loyalties identity cards 70,75—6 immigration 45 income support 168-9 income tax 146 Independent, the India 26 individualism: 54, 57, 59-60

in the arts 202—3

in housing 178

in sport and leisure 191, 210 industrial action 144 industrial revolution, the 25, 37, 38 industry 37-40, 145 informality 62-3, 72, 92 Inland Revenue, the 146 Inns of Court 111. international relations 113—20 investment 146-7

IRA (Irish Republican Army) 119, 157 Ireland:

government of 8, 119 —20

historyof 18-19,21-3,25-8,119

as part of the British Isles 8

religion in 21,23,125

sport in 8,12-13,53,195

see also Northern Ireland Irish:

characteristics 11, 58

language 16, 26

sense of identity 10—12,42 Islam: see Muslims

Isle of Man, the 9

ITN (Independent Television News) 158

ITV (Independent Television) 157—60

James I/James VI 22,213

James II 23

Jehovah's Witnesses 127

job vacancies 142

Jock ii

John Bull 11

JPs (Justices of the Peace) 109-10

Judaism 128, 129

judges 111—12

Julius Caesar 16

juries 110

justice: see law

Justices of the Peace 109-10

KCB (Knight Commander of the Order of the

Bath) 79 Kent 31,37

KG (Knight of the Order of the Garter) 79 kilt 11, 43

King James Bible, the 121 King's College Chapel Choir 202 King's Cross 165 Kipling, Rudyard 28 kirk 126 kissing 63 Kizsko, Stefan 107 knowledge, the 165 krauts i85

Labour Party 7 3

electoral results 98, 102-5

origin of 29

and trade unions 143, 144 labour relations 144 lager 187

Lake District, the 31, 39 Lake Poets, the 39 Lambeth Palace 125 Lancaster 16, 20 land, ownership of 25

see also housing Land of Hope and Glory 43 landscape 3 3 language:

accents of English 47-50

Celtic languages 11, 16

Cockney rhyming slang 48

Gaelic languages 11, 26

history of English 18,19

learning languages 55

Scots 22

and social class 19, 48-50

and sport 19 3

standard English 48-50, 55

Welsh 44, 134 Lansdowne Road 193 law 106—12

and animals 62

attitudes towards 69-70

and criminal procedure 107—8

and elections 99,102, 104

legal system, the 109—12

legislation (new) 95

Lord Chancellor, the 111

and the monarchy 77

and Parliament 70—1, 95, 112

and the police 106—8

and religion 122

in Scotland 111

and sport 192 Law Lords, the 96 Law Society exams 111 Ib (pound) 148

LEA (Local Education Authority) 13 2 Leeds 34,38 leek 10

legal profession, the 11 1-12 legal system, the 107—12 leisure:

and animals 6 2

and the countryside 61

eating out 186-7

entertaining guests 63

holidays 208-10

pubs 188—90

reading 151, 205

and social identity 52

television 159, 205

videos 202

see also arts, competition, sport Liberal Democrat Party 73,98, 103-5 Liberal Party 29,73,103 libraries 88, 205 Lieutenant Governors 9 literature 202-3, 205-6 Liverpool 34, 38, 47 Liverpool Street 165 Llewellyn 20 local, the 187 local councils 86-9 local government:

and education 132

and housing 177,180—2

organization and status of 86—9

welfare services 169 local loyalties 47 Lofts, Norah 205 lollipop ladies 163 London 34,36

buses 56, 164

business life 147

Cockneys 48, 165

and domination of national transport system 165

government and politics 88

in history 16, 25

Marathon, the 198

multiculturalism in 58

pollution in 35

taxis 56, 164—5

Underground, the 164, 165 Lord Chancellor, the 111 Lord Snooty 59 Lord Sutch 100 Lords, the House of:

history of 20, 29, 96

modern role of 96-7

role in lawmaking 95, 96 Lords of Appeal 96 Lord's 193 low church 124

loyalists in Northern Ireland 118-20 loyalties 10—13,4 2—5 5 LSD system 148

M25 164

MaCauley, Lord 85

mace, the 90

Mackintosh, Charles Rennie 39

Index 221

MacMillan, Harold 85 104 mad cow disease 185 magazines 155

magistrate's courts 109-10, 111 Magna Carta 19 Major, John:

actions of 75,186

background of 142

in elections 100, 104

as Prime Minister 69, 85' Malvinas War, the 123 Manchester 34, 38, 47 manufacturing 37—40, 145 marginal constituencies101 Marks and Spencers 150 May Day 215

MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) 200 McKenzie, Robert 103 meals-on-wheels 170 means test 169

measurement, scales of 33, 6o media, the 151-61 medical care 170—3 medical insurance 170,171 medicines 170, 173 medieval period, the 18—19 Meibion Glyndwr 43

Members of Parliament 72, 90—4, 98—9 men and women 51,142-3 MENCAP 170 Methodism 127

metric system of measurement 6o Metropolitan Police, the 106 MI6 70

Middle English 19,22 Midlands, the 37-8 Mikes, George 66, 141, 165, 184 mild 18 7

Mills and Boon 2o6 minicabs 165 ministers 82, 126 monarchy 77-81

attitudes towards 75, 80 — I

constitutional role of 71, 77-9

Edward VIII, abdication of 80

and honours list 79

relations with Parliament 72,77-79

and religion 121 —2

royal family, the 78

Windsor name 77 money: coins and currency 148

distribution of wealth 146

earning money 141-3

finance and investment 146—7

spending money 148—9

taxes 146 Mormons 127 mortgage 180 motor sports 193, 198 motor transport 16 2—5 motorways 163, 164 Mothers' Day 215 mountains 31,3 8—40 MPs (Members of Parliament) 72 , 90-4, 98-9

multiculturalism 58 Murrayfield 43. 193 museums 207 music 202, 203, 204—5 musicians 202 Muslims 76, i22, 128-9

names, personal 11, 47

national anthem 122

national curriculum 133—5,140

National Front, the 73

National Health Service, the 28, 168, 170-2

national hunt racing 197

national insurance contributions 168, 173

national lottery, the 200

national loyalties 12—13, 42—5

national service 70,115

National Trust, the 12, 61

Nationalists in Northern Ireland 103, 118—2o

nationalist political parties 73, 103, 118

nationalization 145

nature, love of 60—1

Navy, the 115

neighbourhood watch 108

Nelson, Admiral 25

New Age 128

New Age Travellers 15, 183

New Scotland Yard 106

New Statesman and Society, the 155

New Year 208,212-13,215

Newcastle 34,38,47

Newmarket 19 3

News of the World, the 152

newsagents 151

newspapers: see press

NHS (National Health Service) 168, 170-2

nicknames 11

Nightingale, Florence 172

noise 167

nonconformists 122,126—7,200

Norfolk Broads, the 31,37

Norman Conquest, the 18

north of England, the 25, 38-9,102

Northern Ireland:

elections in 101, 103

geography of 40

in history 23, 119

language of 50

as part of Britain 8-9,118-20

politics in 73,118—20

population of 13

senses of identity in 52—3, 119—20 Netting Hill Carnival, the 58 Nottingham 34, 38 novelists 202-3

NUF (National Union of Farmers) 144 nurses and nursing172 nursing homes 171 NUT (National Union of Teachers) 142

Observer, the 152, 154 off-licences 148 Official Secrets Act, the 70 old age 46,168,169 Old Bailey, the 112 OldTrafford 193 Old Vie, the 204 Open University, the138 opera 203,204 Opposition, the 74, 94 opting out 88, 134, 171 Orangemen 23, 215 Orthodox, Christian 128 Orwell, George 183 ounces i48 Oval, the 193 owner-occupiers 180 —1 Oxbridge 139

Oxfam 64

Oxford 34, 138, 139 Oxford English 50 oz (ounce) 148

package holidays 210

Paddington 165

Paddy ii

page three girls 154

painting 206

pairing system 72

Palace of Westminster, the 72, 90

pancake day 214

panto (mime) 213

paper rounds 151

parishes 87, 89, 126

parks 61, 88

Parliament 90—7

atmosphere and style of 72,91-2

history of 19-20, 22—4, 74

and law-making 70—1, 95

and the monarchy 72, 77—9

powers of 71-2,90

procedure in 9 3—4

state opening of 80, 97

see also Commons, Lords parliamentarians 22 parliamentary democracy 71 parties, political:

annual party conferences of 75

basic details of 73

and elections 98—105

and Europe i 17

in government 82—4

in law 100

money of 73

party leaders of 75, l 01

in Parliament 72

and party political broadcasts 72

and the party system 24, 74—5

and the press 153

and trade unions 153-4 Patrick, St 10,17 patriotism 54 patronage 24, 84 PAYE (pay as you earn) 164 Peel, Robert 25 peerage,the 96 Pennines, the 31,38 pensions 27, 168 Pentecostalists 128

peoples of Britain, the 10—13,42—5 periodicals 155 pets 62

pharmacies 170 Picts, the 16 pints 117 plague 20, 23 Plaid Cymru 7 3 plays, long-running 203 playwrights 202—3 poets and poetry 202—3,206 police, the 106—8,172 peliteness 63 political life 67—76 political parties: see parties political satire 67-9 politicians, behaviour of 67, 72

see also MPs politics 67-105

politics and personal identity 52 polling day 99, l01

222 Index

polling station 99,101

poll tax 87

pollution 28, 35, 162

polo 19 7

polytechnics 139

Pontins 209

pools, the (football) 200

pop music 204—5

popular newspapers 152, 154-5

population 13, 34

posh 49, 50

post office 147

postcards 210

pot-holing 210

Potteries, the 38

pounds 148

poverty 146

prefects 131

prehistory 15

prep schools 131

Presbyterian Church 23, 1l6, 127

prescription charges 170

press, the:

circulation figures 152

magazines and periodicals 155

national and local 151

and politics 153—4

Press Complaints Commission 11,4

and privacy 154

sex and scandal in 154.-!;

two types of newspaper 15 2 priests 124, 126 Prime Minister, the:

choice of 71-2, 77-8, 84

origin of role 24

powers of 71-2, 83-5' Prime Ministers 51, 69, 85 Prince:

Albert 27

Andrew 78

Charles 78,80,81

Edward 7 8

Philip 78

Prince of Wales, the 19,78 Princess:

Anne 78

Diana 78,80,81

Margaret 78 privacy:

and housing 35,174—9

and noise 167

and the press 154—5

in politics 7 2

and sex 65'—6

and transport 163

and welfare benefits 169 Private Eye 155 privatization 145 Privy Council, the 83 probation 109 Proms, the 203 property 174—8, 180—2 property developers 175 prostitution 66 Protestantism:

in British history 20-2,214

today 124, 126—7

see also Northern Ireland pubs 52, 187, 188-90 public services 87—8 punk 205

puritanism 22, 126, 187

Quakers 122, 127

qualifications, educational 137

QC (Queen's Counsel) 111

Queen, the: see Elizabeth II, monarchy

Queen and I, The 49, 55

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother 78

Question time 95

queuing 57, 165

RAC (Royal Automobile Club) 162

racial minorities 13, 45-6, 58

racism 45

radio 156,157, 194

Radio Times, the 54—5, 155

rail transport 165-6

rain 3 2

Ramblers' Association, the 61, 165'

Rangers football team 3 9

rates 87

ratings war, the 159,160

reading habits 59,88,204—5

Reading music festival, the 203

Received Pronunciation 48—5'0, 55

Recessional 28

recreation: see leisure

referendum on EU 71,116

Reformation, the 21

Reith, Lord John 156

religion 121—9

and alcohol 126,127

atheism 26

attitudes towards 121-3, 208, 211, 213-14

and education 125,129

and gambling 126

in laws 122

and the monarchy 20-3, 122

non-Christian 127—9

and personal identity 5-2

and politics 22,12 2—3 Remembrance Sunday 215 Republic of Ireland: see Ireland republicans in Northern Ireland 118 restaurants 184, 186—7 retailing 148—50 retirement 142

Revolution, the Glorious 23 rich and poor 146 Richard I 19 Richard III 20 rights:

in the constitution 72

individual and state 70

and the police 70,108

religious 26, 76, 122

women's 5'!, 124 Ring-a-ring-a-roses 23 road manners 64,163—4 road numbering 165 road safety 163, 188 roads 162 Robin Hood 19 rock 209

rock music 203,204—5 Romans, the 16 Romantic Poets, the 28, 39 rooms in houses 179 rose 10 rounders 198 Roundheads, the 22,23 rowing 192, 199 Royal Air Force, the 115

royal family, the 78, 197

royal weddings 29

RP (Received Pronunciation) 48—50, 55

RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company) 204

RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of

Cruelty to Animals) 6 2 RUC (Royal Ulster Constabulary) 120 Rugby (school) 13I

rugby (sport) 53, 192, 193, 196-7, 199 Rushdie, Salman 76, 205

Sainsburys 150

saints, patron 10

Salvation Army, the 127, 170

Samaritans, the 170

Samye Ling 129

sandwich courses 139

Santa Claus 212

Save the Children Fund 64

Saxe-Coburg Gotha 77

Saxons 17, 18

scandals 65,67, 154-5

Scandinavia 17—18

Scarborough 33,209

Scargill, Arthur 145

SCE (Scottish Certificate of Education) 137

schools:

boarding 131, 132

comprehensive 134

and everyday life 135—6

grammar 134

grant-maintained 134

independent i30

national curriculum 133—5,140

nursery 133, 135

organization of 132

preparatory (prep) 131

primary 135

public 130-1, 142, 191

and religion 125,129

secondary 134, 136

state 130

subjects of study in 135, 136, 140 science and technology 135 Scotland:

education in 137, 139

geography of 39

history of 16, 19,24—5'

law in 111

money in 148

and New Year 212—3

newspapers in 151

as part of Britain 10, 118

politics in 73, 102-3, 118

population of 13

religion in 21—3,126

sport in 8,192,193

symbols of 10—11 Scots 22, 42 Scott, Sir Walter 43 Scottish:

characteristics 11,21,58

language 16,22,42.50

sense of identity 10 — 12, 42—5 Scottish National Party 73,118 sculpture 206 seaside holidays 208—9 secretaries of state 82 secrecy in public life 7 2 secret service, the 70 secrets, official 70 security firms 108

Index 223

self-help 64

semi-detached houses 176

senior service, the 115

settlement, patterns of 25, 33-35, 38

Seventh Day Adventists 127

sex:

attitudes towards 65—6, 210

and politics 65'

and the press 154—5

and religion 126, 127

sexual harrassment 212

see also women shadow cabinet, the 74, 94 Shakespeare 21,38,201, Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, the 204 shaking hands 63 shamrock 10 shandy 187

Shankill Road, the 53 Sheffield 34,38 Shelter 182-3 shipbuilding 38,40 shires 87 shooting 197 shop stewards 144 shops and shopping:

attitudes towards 148

for food 185

opening hours 149—50

types of shop 148—9

well-known chain stores 150 show homes 178 show jumping 197 Shrove Tuesday 214 Shuttle, Le 166 sickness benefit 169 signing on 169 Sikhism 128 Silverstone 193 Sinn Fein 73 six counties, the 118 sixth form, the 137 slang, rhyming 48 snobs and snobbery 50, 186 SNP (Scottish National Party) 73 soap operas (soaps) 11,9—61, 187 soccer 191 social class: see class

Social Democratic and Labour Party 73 social identity 42—55 social life, importance of 51 social security 168—70 social services/workers 169 -70 Society of Friends 12 5 solicitors 111 Sotheby's 206 South Bank, the 204

south of England, the 25,37-8,102-3 Spanish Armada, the 21, 117 Speaker, the 90-1

special occasions and days 46, 211—15 sport:

attitudes towards 191—2

calendar of events and seasons 199

and competition 191-200

crowd behaviour 192, 195

in education 133,191,198

and the language 193

and local government 88, 192

national British teams 8,12-13

in the press 151, 191

and the royal family 197

spectator attendance 195 stadiums and venues 193,195 on television 158, 191, 192 well-known events 192—3,199

Spycatcher 70

square mile, the 36,147

squash 187

squatting 182

St Andrew's 193

StPancras 165

St Paul's Cathedral 23

St Valentine's Day 214

standard of living 141

Star, the 152, 153

stately homes 174,177

steam engines 162

steel, production of 38

stereotypes of nationalities 11, 21

Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds 104

stiff upper lip 171

Stonehenge 15

Stratford-upon-Avon 34, 38, 204

street names 178

strikes 144, 145

Stuart dynasty, the 22, 23, 24

students 137,138

suburbs, the 36,176,178

Suez ii3-14,115

suffragettes 29

Sun, the 152, 153

Sunday Correspondent, the 152

Sunday papers, the 151

Sunday Post, the 151

Sunday Times, The 152,153

Sundays 63, 126,150

superannuation schemes 168

supermarkets 148—9, 150, 185

surnames 11, 47

Sutch, Lord 100

swingometer, the 102—3

swots 58

Synod, the General 124

tabloids 152

Tarn o'Shanter 43

tanner 148

collection of 87-8, 146

and the constitution 78

on goods for sale 146

and housing 180

on inheritance 177

local council tax 87—8

on personal income 146 taxis 56, 164—5 tea 57,116

teachers and teaching 133, 13 5—6 team games 191, 198 television 157—61

advertising 157—8

and the arts 201, 203, 205

BBCand ITV 157-61

channels 158

and elections 100—1,102

finances 156,157

in Parliament 95

and political party leaders 75-5

and politics 69, 157

satellite and cable 159

and sport 191,192

television sets, ownership of 156, 159

temperature 32, 33, 60

tennis 191,192-3,198,199

terraced houses 176

Tesco 150

test matches 194

Thames, the 31, 167

Thatcher, Margaret 69,85,104

Thatcherism 145,181,201

theatre, the 202-4

theatres 204

Thirty-Nine Articles, the 124

thistle 10

Threadneedle Street 147

Times, The 12, 152, 153

Tones, the 24, 29, 73

tourism:

from Britain 185, 210

inside Britain 167,177,208—10

to Britain 80, 116 tower blocks 175 Tower of London, the 20 Town Hall, the 86 town houses 176 Townsend, Sue 49, 55 trade unions 143-5

Trades Union Congress 26,29,143-5 tradition:

in life generally 56—7, 59

in public life 64

in pubs 189—90

and seaside holidays 208-9

on special occasions 211-14 Trafalgar, the Battle of 25 Trafalgar Square 25, 86, 21 2 traffic:

cones 164

congestion 162, 164

wardens 164 train spotters 162

training for jobs 134,135,136-7 trains 61, 62, 165—6 trams 164 transport 162—7

by air 166-7

attitudes towards 162,163

international 165—7

policy 162

by rail 61, 164—6

byroad 162-5

by water 167 travel: see tourism, transport travellers 182—3 Treasury, the 24, 82 Trent Bridge 193 Triple Crown, the 192 troubles, the 119 trusts r 71 tube, the 164

TUC (Trades Union Congress) 26, 143—5 Tudor dynasty, the 20 turf accountants 19 8 TV: see television Twickenham 19 3

UB40 169

UDA (Ulster Defence Association) 119

UFF (Ulster Freedom Fighters) 119

UK (United Kingdom) 9

Ulster 23, 29,118-20

Ulster Unionists 73

Underground, the 164, 165

224 Index

unemployment 142—3, 168—9

Union Jack, the 13

unionists in Northern Ireland 103, 118-20

unions, the 143—5

United Kingdom, the 8-9

United Reformed Church 127

universities 138—40

USA, the 115-16

UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force) 119

Varsity Match, the 192,199 VAT (Value Added Tax) 146 vegetarianism 185 vehicle registration 162—3 Victoria, Queen 27,80,131 Victoria and Albert Museum 207 Victoria Station 165 Victorian values 28,189 videos 151,202 Vikings, the 17-18 village green 60, 194 violence 108, 195 voting: see elections

wages 142,146 Wales:

geography of 40

history of 17, 18—19,20

as pan of Britain 10, 118

and politics 73, 102-3, 118

population of 13

religion in 127

sport in 8,193,196

symbols of 10-11

wars:

Falklands/Malvinas War 54, 114, 123

First World War 27,77

Crimean War 17 2

Gulf War 29, 116

Second World War 28

Wars of the Roses 20 watchdog organizations 14 5 Waterloo 165 waterways 167 Watt, James 24 wealth 141, 146 weather 31-3, 65 weddings 46

weights and measures 60,148 welfare 168-73

welfare state, origins of the 168 Welsh:

characteristics 11, 58

language 44,134

sense of identity 10—12,42—5 Wembley 19 3 Wesley, John 127 Wessex 17

West Country, the 37 West End, the 36 Westminster 36 Westminster Abbey 122 Which? magazine 64 Whigs, the 24, 29, 73 whips 84, 94

White Man's Burden, The 28 Whitehall 86 William the Conqueror 18

William of Orange 23

Wilson, Harold 85, 104

Wimbledon 192, 193

Winchester 131

Windsor Castle 81

Windsors, the 77

wine 187

wireless, the 156

Wogan, Terry 1 3

women, position of:

in law 72, 142-3

in public life 51,124, 142—3

in social life 188

Woolworlhs 150

work:

attitudes towards 141—2 everyday working life 142,143 labour relations 144 payment for 142, 146 social importance of 52 unemployment 141—3, l68—9 work organizations 143-5

work-to-rule 144

workhouse, the 168

World Service, the BBC 157,161

Withering Heights 3 8

yards 117

Yes, Prime Minister 67—9, 117

Yorkshire 47

Youth Hostels Association 61

ZCars 106

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The publisher and author would like to thank the following for their permission to use extracts from copyright material;

BBC Enterprises Ltd for extracts from Yes, Prime Minuter by Jonathan Lynn and Antony Jay.

Cambridge University Press for extracts from 'The Invisible Scot' in English Today 18 April 1989.

Penguin Books Ltd for extracts from How to be Inimitable by George Mikes (Penguin Books 1966, first published by Andre Deutsch) copyright © George Mikes, 1960.

Radio Times/BBC Magazines for extract from 'Peter Snow's Armchair Guide,'Radio Times, April 1992. Reed Consumer Books for extracts from The Queen aria I by Sue Townsend (Methuen, London), © 1992 by Sue Townsend.

Times Newspapers Ltd for extracts from 'Mad about plaid' by A A Gill, The Sunday Times, London, 23 January 1994, © Times Newspapers Ltd 1994: 'Who gives a caber toss?' by Harry Ritchie, The Sunday Times, London, 23 January 1994, © Times Newspapers Ltd 1994: 'Defiant English hold out against Welsh arsonists' by Stuart Wavell, The Sunday Times, London, 15 November 1992, © Times Newspapers Ltd 1992: and 'Britain bans EC Medals' from News Digest, The Sunday Times, 18 April 1993, © Times Newspapers Ltd 1993.

A P Watt Ltd on behalf of The National Trust for extracts from "The White Man's Burden' and 'Recessional' by Rudyard Kipling.

Cover photograph;

Collections Photo Library/Gary Smith