The Only Way Is Up : How 1988 shaped the contours of world history
Neil Mach SpeakerNet Sponsor
- Region:
- South East
- Notice Period:
- Emergency (maybe less than one week's notice)
- Type:
- author and social historian
- Fee:
- Expensed: 60
- Category:
- History
- Updated:
- 30th May 2026
- Tagged:
- 1988 | Eighties | Community History | Recent History
English author Neil Mach has already proven the popularity of his well-received light-hearted community history talks with his presentation titled "Standpipes and Sex Pistols: Remembering a long hot summer" which is about the history of 1976 (check it out!)
Neil is now offering a slideshow presentation that explores another important + memorable year in our recent community history: 1988.
1988 was a pivotal year in the early development of the Internet: it was the year the World Wide Web was 'born.' 1988 also brought the end of the Cold War, as the Iron Curtain fell apart and Russia began a phased economic restructuring (perestroika.)
Thus, it was the final occasion that the USSR and East Germany sent teams to the Olympics. Speaking of the Games, the 1988 Winter Olympics are lovingly remembered as the games that the "heroic failures" "Eddie the Eagle" and the Jamaican bobsleigh team won-over global audiences.
If you know who sang "I Should Be So Lucky" and you know that "Heaven is a Place on Earth" and you recall who represented Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest (they won but weren't Swiss!) and you know who Loadsamoney is, and you'd recognise Russell Harty in a line-up, and you could tell the difference between Crockett and Tubbs, then Neil's talk, titled "The Only Way Is Up : How 1988 shaped the contours of world history" will be a nostalgic journey down memory lane for you and your group!
1988 was the year of Die Hard, Moonstruck, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
1988 was the year of padded shoulders, neon colours, acid-wash jeans, and big big big hair!
Yes, 1988 is the zeitgeist year of the Eighties because it encapsulated all that was good (and not so good) about that glitzy decade! So lay-out some plates of crispy potato skins, bring the mini quiches, and pour glasses of Beaujolais Nouveau, roll-up your suit-jacket sleeves, and settle down for an 50 minutes of amusing reminiscences, unapologetic confessions, and irreverent commemorations.
As fashion designer Katharine Hamnett said at the time, 'There's only one year that counts in the '80s... and that's eighty-eight.'
Views: 320 | Enquiries: 1About Neil Mach
Neil Mach is considered highly skilled in the art of public speaking.
It doesn’t matter how big or small your audience is, this speaker has delivered his entertaining illustrated presentations to audiences large & small, from theatres to living rooms, from care homes to first schools!
Neil has given his amazing presentations to community groups, Probus clubs, W.I. meetings, U3A groups, care homes, schools, colleges, and neighbourhood associations big-and-small for over five years.
With over 20 books written, Neil is a published ethical author and he describes himself as a ‘hippy grandad' and 'community historian.'
His home is Staines by the River Thames but Neil is willing to travel in the South-East and the Thames Valley and has given his slideshow talks in Leicester, Birmingham, South Kent, and North Bedfordshire.
After retiring from over 35 years in public service, Neil became an internationally recognized author/journalist in the music industry. He founded the ‘Rock Pen’ school to nurture aspiring music writers and made valuable contributions to various esteemed publications, newsletters, and blogs.
During 2021, Neil curated a highly acclaimed exhibition on the ‘Coronation Charts’, which marked the beginning of the pop record charts in British music history. In 2024, Neil arranged a temporary exhibition that focused on Led Zeppelin in 1969. He later conducted presentations on the same subject, and wrote a book on the 'history of suburban rock 'n' roll'.
Neil hosts his own podcast show (now in its fifth year, with over 125 episodes broadcast) and he makes regular appearances on TV and frequent guest appearances on radio and podcast.
If you need him quickly Neil is often available at short notice (less than a week).
Neil is aware of the financial constraints of small community groups and associations, so he offers his illustrated talks for free, but he'd appreciate a reasonable contribution towards his travel expenses.
Neil brings mementos, artifacts, costumes (!) and ephemera with him to aid in triggering audience memories. He also provides his own equipment.
What audiences are saying...
"Grateful thanks for your entertaining and informative presentation on Wednesday. It really was enjoyed and much appreciated!"
- Mole Valley Stroke Club
"Thank you so much for your talk today. It was just what we wanted..."
- Wadhurst Probus
"Lots of great feedback today Neil. We’d love to have you back..."
- Time2Meet, Carshalton
"I just wanted to thank you again for your talk. I had some great feedback, everyone found your talk interesting & entertaining..."
- NHS Retirement Fellowship, Reigate
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Links:
https://www.facebook.com/author.neilmach
https://www.neilmachauthor.com/
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Other Talks on SpeakerNet by Neil Mach
- Rocking Surrey: History of Suburban Rock and Roll with music journalist Neil Mach
- The Fiction of Romani Culture: Exploring the way Gypsy people are depicted in literature
- Reflecting on 1969: Britain Thrusts into the Space Age
- Surrey Farmland Girls - Triumph on the Land: the story of the Women's Land Army
- Clickety click - life in ‘66: the year that Britain became the envy of the world
- Standpipes and Sex Pistols: Remembering the long hot summer of '76
- How we lived on the brink... Life in Britain during the Cold War 1957-1967
- What is Steampunk fiction?
- The year that changed its mind —1936
- 1946 - the wonderful year of beginnings
- Discoveries from 1960s children’s television. Lessons learned from Sixties children’s telly!
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