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: 20
- Category:
- History
- Updated:
- 11th November 2025
- 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: 24 | Enquiries: 0About 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! The author has delivered speeches to audiences of various sizes and ages, ranging from theatres to living rooms, and from care homes to first schools.
Neil has given his entertaining slideshow presentations to community groups, Probus clubs, W.I. meetings, U3A groups, care homes, schools, colleges, and other neighbourhood associations big-and-small.
With over 20 books written, Neil is not only a published ethical author but also a multi-time NaNoWriMo champion. He describes himself as a ‘hippy grandad!’’
His home is located in Surrey, England, by the River Thames but he's willing to travel in the South-East and Thames Valley and has given slideshow talks in Leicester, Birmingham, South Kent, and North Bedfordshire.
In his popular 'penniless writer series' he guides new writers in ways they can achieve their writing ambitions with minimal outlay.
After retiring from 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 has made valuable contributions to various esteemed publications, newsletters, and blogs.
During 2021, he curated an exhibition that was highly acclaimed and delivered a talk on the ‘Coronation Charts’, which marked the beginning of pop charts in British music history.
In 2024, he arranged a temporary exhibition focused on Led Zeppelin in 1969. He later conducted presentations on the same subject.
Neil makes regular appearances on TV and is a frequent guest on radio and podcasts.
Don’t miss Neil’s fascinating 45–60 minute illustrated talk exploring the question, “What is Fantasy Fiction?” In this entertaining talk, the author explores the “need” for fantasy creation in humans and explains the fundamental definitions of the genre. He delves into questions like: What makes up the key element of fantasy? What is fantasy fiction? What is liminality? What is a liminoid experience? What’s the difference between myth and fairytale? What is the definition of magical? What is the difference between high fantasy and low fantasy?
If you need him quickly the speaker is often available at short (less than a week) notice.
The author 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, and ephemera with him to aid in triggering audience memories. He also provides his own equipment.
+++++++++++++++++++++++ Links:
https://www.facebook.com/author.neilmach
https://www.neilmachauthor.com/
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Significant podcast episodes:
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/josiane-fortin7/episodes/80-Where-Fantasy-Authors-Ought-to-Begin-e1igc4n/a-a2ks2ah
https://www.spreaker.com/user/tomreaoch/neil-mach-author-so-you-want-to-write-fa
TV appearances:
The Repossible Show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fStjDjkV9M&t=114s&pp=ygUJbmVpbCBtYWNo
The Self Publishing Queen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMmaTR7SSZ0&t=16s&pp=ygUJbmVpbCBtYWNo
Other Talks on SpeakerNet by Neil Mach
- What is Fantasy Fiction? - with English fantasy author 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
- How to get a book started: How to Write Your First Book with author Neil Mach
- 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
- The penniless writer series: why you should start writing your book today.
- How we lived on the brink... Life in Britain during the Cold War 1957-1967
- The penniless writer series : how you can publish your book on a shoestring
- What is Steampunk fiction?
- The penniless writer series: how to increase sales by positioning your book for free
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