Todays date is infamous among pop culture fanatics and movie buffs the world over. 21st October 2015 is the date in the future Marty McFly and Doc Brown visit from 1985, in the cult time travelling film Back to the Future II.
Now, we have yet to sample the culinary delights of rehydrated pizza, fax machines don’t line the streets and Jaws 19 is not hitting cinemas anytime soon, but there is no doubt that the 2015 we live in today would be just as different and foreign to a time traveller as the fictional 2015 was to Marty. So many things have changed, advanced and become extinct since 1985 (think of the Betamax and Banana Rama being cool) and many members of our staff have seen many major milestones in their life.
We went Back to the Future with four Shepherds Friendly Society staff members; Pat, Anna, Claire and Val, who spoke to us about their lives since 1985, and how things have changed since then.
Claire- customer services representative
“In 1985, I was 15 years old and in year 10 at school. I had a spiral perm (a fact I am now very reluctant to admit) and loved my 80’s music like Kim Wilde, Duran Duran, Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Spandau Ballet. I remember there being only three television channels and everyone having to use landlines- even when you wanted to call a boy!
“In the next couple of years, I got my first car, a red fiat, with a loan I got from the bank. I also went on a variety of foreign holidays and got married. After that, I went through four house moves (some more stressful than others) and had my son, Jack.”
Pat- customer services representative
“I had just given birth to my son, Paul, in 1985, and was planning to go back to the place I worked before Shepherds Friendly. I was lucky, as my job wanted me to return to work, but it was not a legal requirement for companies to keep anyone’s job open when they went on maternity leave in 1985.
“I have had a busy time in the 30 years since then. I have been lucky enough to see all four of my children go through school, and my three daughters got married in beautiful ceremonies, all within three years of each other!
“There was no such thing as a Junior Isa or a Child Trust Fund when I first had my children, and I believe if they were around then, the plans would have really helped them out at the start of their adult lives.”
Val- member and culture manager
“I had been married for two years in 1985, and had just moved into my first house with my husband. On a startling note, the house was a three bedroom semi and we bought it for just £19,500!
“I remember there being no microwave or washing machine, and I had to use an old “twin tub” to wash our clothes. I would scrub them for hours and ring them all out to dry myself!
“I started working at Shepherds Friendly Society a few years later, and have been here ever since. I even celebrated my 25th work anniversary last month. I moved house three times, and had a beautiful daughter called Rachel, who I took out a Shepherds Friendly savings plan for. Rachel went through school and grew up, and spent the money on a brand new car when she was 18.”
Anna- Customer services representative
“I got married in 1985, and moved into a new house with my husband.
“Since then, I have had two sons who are now grown up- one runs his own business and the other attends university. We have changed cars numerous times, moved house, extended our house and been to Disneyworld three times.
“I had Shepherds Friendly Society savings plan for both of my sons and they have used them to help with their university fees and to put towards a car. If I knew that university fees were going to increase by so much, I would have tried to save more for them!
“I also had a period of time when I was off work for 12 months. I wish she had known about Income Protection then, as it was completely unexpected and being able to have part of my income at that time would have really helped, as the boys were little. Luckily, I am completely back on my feet now.
“I actually remember going to see Back to the Future II in the cinema when it first came out. I was in my early 20’s when I saw it, and 2015 sounded like it was miles ahead in the future. Now that it is here, it feels like it has gone by in the blink of an eye
Great Scott!
So, between just four of our Shepherds Friendly members of staff, thirty years has seen nine house moves, eight children, five weddings and even a house costing under £20,000! As Doc Brown would say, “Great Scott!”
Unfortunately, unlike Marty McFly, we can’t time travel to have a look what might be happening in ours and our family’s lives in 30 years time. Life can throw unexpected things at you, and although the future may seem a long way off, before you know it, it will feel like you have zoomed towards it in a DeLorean. In the words of Doc Brown:
“Your future hasn’t been written yet. No one’s has. Your future is whatever you make it. So make it a good one.”
That’s great advice. To help make it a good one, start saving for your future with Shepherds Friendly Society today. Take a look at our Stocks & Shares ISA and our Junior Stocks & Shares ISA.
