Summer of '76

Welcome back to the start of another academic year and as we say goodbye to the summer of 2026, it felt poignant to reflect upon a summer many moons ago....

It was the summer of 1976. Ironically, for those who remember it, it is perhaps best known for one thing: the heatwave.

From 23 June to 7 July, temperatures reached or exceeded 32.2°C every single day, making it a summer that has remained firmly etched in the nation's memory.

Fast forward 50 years, and the summer of 2026 made history books as the UK's hottest on record. Temperatures soared to a sweltering 38°C, while July was the driest since records began in 1836. By 15 July, the UK had already experienced more days above 30°C than throughout the whole of 1976 - an extraordinary statistic given the enduring reputation of that summer.

Half a century apart, two summers, both defined by remarkable heat, provide the perfect backdrop for a moment of reflection and change. 

1976 seemed to produce a strong year for the foundation of technology as we know it today - Apple was founded and I'm sure when they began their venture on 1st April no less, they would indeed think it a joke that 50 years later, an astonishing 1.5 billion people, would own one of their yet to be invented Apple products - the iPhone (bearing in mind that Motorola only invented the mobile - handheld phone - 3 years earlier and such a device wouldn't be available to purchase for another 10 years). 

Technology dominated and Microsoft officially registered as a corporation. The first commercial Concorde flight took off from London Heathrow and The Body Shop was founded. But heatwaves, technology and planes aside, there were many other similarities despite being 50 years apart. 

Drought was intense in both years. Despite a wet winter in 2025–26, the scorching summer of 2026 left land parched, crops struggling and agriculture under pressure, while wildfires broke out across the country - echoes of the summer of 1976.

You could also be forgiven for thinking that politics was repeating itself. In 1976, James Callaghan succeeded Harold Wilson as Prime Minister following Wilson’s resignation. Fifty years on, political change has once again been a feature of the year, with the country witnessing another change of leadership at the top of British politics.

But, weather and politics aside, the world of 2026 would be almost unrecognisable to someone stepping out of RGS in 1976.

The internet - an unprecedented notion at the time - is now woven into almost every aspect of daily life. Mobile phones have evolved far beyond their original purpose, doubling as calendars, cameras, diaries, entertainment centres and gateways to the world.

Cars, once powered almost exclusively by petrol or diesel, are undergoing another revolution as electric vehicles become increasingly commonplace, with charging points appearing on homes, streets and across the country.

Music has transformed too. The 1970s saw the rise of British punk, alongside disco and glam rock. Today, grime, pop, dance and UK rap dominate the charts, while the records that once filled bedrooms and living rooms have become coveted collector's items and a retro alternative to the instant access offered by streaming services such as Spotify and YouTube.

Cinema has undergone perhaps one of the most extraordinary transformations. The elaborate props, prosthetics and huge physical sets of the 1970s have increasingly been joined and sometimes replaced by CGI, allowing filmmakers to create vast, fantastical worlds that would once have existed only in the imagination.

Even the way we watch television and films has changed beyond recognition. In 1976, video recorders had yet to find their way into most homes. Over the following decades, VHS, MiniDisc and DVD would each have their moment before physical media gradually gave way to on-demand streaming, putting an almost limitless library of entertainment at our fingertips with little more than the click of a remote.

Fifty years is a long time. Now let's take a look closer to home...

The Pilgrim - 1976

One of the best ways to find out what life was really like is to read and view magazines, pictures and other sources of press including our very own school publication. Adverts - which were not common place in the school magazine, must have been quite a new way of thinking as there are 10 within the July edition. Recruitment ads for Midlands bank, Lloyds Bank, the RAF and Crusader Insurance gave Sixth Formers food for thought about their career path beyond RGS. Retailers such as James Knight & Sons featured for all of your haberdashery needs. Uniform and sportswear (many of our long standing Reigatian community may remember this shop fondly) contained rolls of material, cotton spools, wool, clothes patterns - an emporium of household domesticity all within the iconic blue framed building on Bell Street, ow Waterstones and Oliver Bonas. 

An absolute favourite of so many - The Ancient House Bookshop (which is now Richer Sounds), still missed by so many and remains fondly planted in my own mind as the best bookshop there ever was. John Duke - official Outfitters of Reigate Grammar School stood where you'll now find Iceland in Redhill. La Trobe's of Reigate was the local specialist for all of your sports and educational toys such as Subbuteo, Kraft Kits, Hornby Trains and model steam engines. The family run store was much loved between 1911 and 1980 and could be found behind what is now known as Halliwell Marks, down the little side alley. 

The summer of 1976 saw the PFA officially recognised to include the 'friends' part - widening the scope for support. The prefects of this glorous time, some of whom actually joined us at the Class of 1976 Gold Reunion this summer, stated in their 'Prefect's Report' that they had raised over £200 from the 'Prefect's Revue' to support Imperial Cancer Reasearch and the School Tercentenary Fund. They also mention that by the time the next report is written, the prefects will now offically be astudents of an 'Independent School'. A notable milestone in the historyof RGS. 

A piece written on the recent 'Easter Concert' mentions a student by the name of 'Keir Starmer' (RGS 1974-1981) some may know of him....his recorder solo accompanied by Alex Brewer (RGS 1971-1978), Gavotte by Basanti was 'well shaped and varied, especially in the lower registers where breath control is crucial and taxing: obviously, there is here a very good musician in the making'....

Houses were still named Doods, Kinnersley, Linkfield, Northdown, Priory, Redstone, Underhill and Wray. For all of our Reigatians out there - how many of you know the locations by which these houses were named.... For those interested, Doods won that year.

Today we have over 180 extra curricular options to choose from - back then however, 1976 had to offer a few you may not see on the club list in 2026 including: Senior (and its counterpart, Junior) Bridge Club, The Military Modelling and Wargaming Society and The Reigate Forum (which by all accounts was suffering a decline in members). 

The 1976 Pilgrim offers a comprehensive sports report, from an impressive 1st XV score sheet of 24 games played, 19 were won and Shôn Jones (RGS 1970-1976) was remarked upon as one of the best players to emergy from RGS. As well as football, back then known as soccer, which was performing well and taking a well earned place alongside rugby at the school. Basketball, hockey and cricket were continuing to thrive in a rugby domnated world. 

The most notable similarity of this time was the school's Tercentenary in 1975 (celebrating 350 years in 2025) and the Tercentenary and Independence appeal that continued into 1976. Having taken the option to become an Independent School, RGS announced the establishment of a bursary fund programme to mitigate the effects of fee-paying by helping boys to come to and stay at the school. In order to remain competitive and maintain high standards, funds would also be needed for capital projects and land. An appeal was launched to raise £120,000 (the equivalent in 2026 of £835,449.62). 2026 will mark the ground breaking of The Andy Paul Sport and Activity Centre - to be built on Broadfield - and came as the result of our Changing Lives, Buillding Futures campaign to raise money for bursaries and capital projects. This incredible community facility, set to open in September 2027, is made possible thanks to a generous donation from former pupil Andy Paul (RGS 1968-1975), alongside financial resources we can now rely on from our RGS International partnerships. This generosity and commitment to RGS has enabled us to move forward with our plans to ensure that sport, fitness, and wellbeing remain at the heart of school life.

Today we have 1200 students however, of the 680 boys at the school in 1976, 200 were Sixth Formers and during the four years leading up to the 1976 summer, 24 places were awarded at Oxford and cambridge. Today we have just celebrated our A Level Results and grades are amongst the best in the country with 94% of A Level grades A*–B and 76% A or A*, while an exceptional 38% of all A Level grades were awarded at A*. Dozens of students achieved A*s in every one of their A Level subjects, while 77 students achieved standards of A* or A in every subject they studied. 

It is important to note here that whilst the image in the picture of the 1976 proposed building is not an exact match to what we see today (the Sports Hall), the building was made possible by the support of our community. Just like today's pending build of The Andy Paul Sport and Activity Centre, 1976 saw the need to keep up with the changing times and introduce a modern gymnasium (to replace the gymnasium that was in the Old Library - directly above the Sixth Library - today's staffroom. The two- storey buildling would have showers, space large enough for games such as basketball and badminton and even featured a viewing gallery. Today, we step up our sports game further with the introduction of an F1 simulator and dance studio. Stage 2 in 1976 became the Concert Hall, a place loved over the years for all the spectacular productions and allowed the whole school to congregate comfortably for assembly. 2026, and with almost double the amount of students, the support we receive from our Reigatians is as valuable than ever and offers us the chance to broaden our horizons, stay competitive and offer world class facilites and education to more students each year.

To find out more aout the Changing Lives, Building Futures campaign or speak to one of the team, please reach out to the RGS Foundation about ways you can help and support, from mentoring to work placements, donations to time, there are so many ways to get involved and we can't wait to welcome you. 

Read The Pilgrim 1976 here.