This is one of a series of articles to commemorate our 40th Anniversary year. Here we look back at our second decade in the 1990s through the themes of the people, places, events and technology of the world around us during that year and covering music, movies and cars.
Overview of the 1990s
What happened in the 1990s? You could say this decade ushered in the Modern Era of digital technology that we continue to live in today. Many things we now take for granted were introduced for the first time. Desktop computers with Microsoft Windows and Office became common. Offices and schools started to get wired up for the world wide web and homes got dial-up internet through phone lines. Digital technology in CDs, DVDs and other forms took hold and analogue vinyl, videos and typewriters went into landfill.
The IRA carried out large-scale and destructive bombing campaigns in Northern Ireland and across England leading to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
European nations signed the Maastricht Treaty to transform the European Community into the European Union, as a visible sign of the continent of Europe reuniting after the collapse of the Soviet Union. However wars carried on in the Balkans and also in Kuwait.
For the ports the opening of the Channel Tunnel to rail traffic and shuttles in 1994 meant other cross-Channel routes were phased out, such as the Dover train ferry and Folkestone Harbour sailings. The M20 and then the A20 were finally completed enabling much easier access to Folkestone and Dover.
The decade also saw classic movies and music, dominated by the Spice Girls with 22 hits and Take That with 21 hits.
1990
In January 1990 Harbour legend Shaun Newell started with us and almost immediately helped to unearth the Iraqi Supergun Scandal! Customs clearance played a major part in helping the law enforcement authorities discover what happened.
The UK joined the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) a precursor of the Euro and Margaret Thatcher resigned as Prime Minister after 11 years.
In other news Germany signed the historic Reunification Treaty to reunite East Germany with West Germany. Swedish shipping giant Stena Line bought Sea Containers who operated the old Dover and Folkestone Sealink ferry routes. Wars broke out in the Balkans as the country of Yugoslavia disintegrated, and also in Kuwait when Saddam Hussein’s Iraq invaded it in the Summer. Apartheid was ended in South Africa.
The top two cars sold that year were the Ford Fiesta and the Ford Escort. In music the best-selling single in 1990 was The Righteous Brothers ‘Unchained Melody’ and Snap’s ‘The Power’ was topping the charts when we celebrated our 7th anniversary in April. ‘Ghost’ was the top movie of the year.
1991
This was the year Mr Steve Cummings joined us, early in his illustrious career, and Harbour Shipping has benefitted from his extensive knowledge and consummate professionalism ever since.
In Kent the M20 ‘missing link’ between Maidstone and Ashford finally opened bringing much easier journeys for cars and trucks. It was the end of an era on 31st December when the last ferry left Folkestone Harbour.
Internationally the Gulf War started in January to liberate Kuwait and succeeded in just a few months. The Yugoslav civil war began in earnest. Queen legend Freddie Mercury died.
The top two cars sold that year were the Ford Fiesta and the Vauxhall Cavalier. In music the best-selling single in 1991 was Bryan Adams’ ‘Everything I Do’ and Cher’s ‘Shoop Shoop Song’ was topping the charts when we celebrated our 8th anniversary in April. ‘Robin Hood – Prince of Thieves’ was the top movie of the year.
1992
The biggest story in our industry and in Western Europe this year was the Maastricht Treaty, signed on 7th February 1992, which transformed the European Community into the European Union. The resulting simplification of customs and travel procedures meant the industry shrank very quickly and many people were made redundant.
In the UK the biggest scandal was the so-called ‘Black Wednesday’ debacle of 16th September when the British Pound was forced to leave the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (forerunner of the Euro), partly because the UK had joined it with the wrong exchange rate.
Microsoft launched its Windows 3.0 with the ground-breaking Office 3.1 suite as PCs became more widespread in offices.
The top two cars sold that year were the re-launched Ford Escort (5th generation!) and the Vauxhall Cavalier. In music the best-selling single in 1992 was Whitney Houston’s ‘I Will Always Love You’ and Shakespear’s Sister’s ‘Stay’ was topping the charts when we celebrated our 9th anniversary in April. ‘Beauty and the Beast’ was the top movie of the year.
1993
Our view of space was transformed with the launch of the Hubble telescope this year, enabling us all to see much higher resolution images of space.
For Dover the biggest story was the opening of the A20 dual carriageway across the cliffs from the M20 at Folkestone into Dover, taking the pressure off Dover town and the A2.
The old 2-shilling coin (florin) was finally withdrawn and replaced by a smaller 10 pence coin.
The top two cars sold that year were the Ford Escort and the Ford Fiesta. In music the best-selling single in 1993 was Meatloaf’s ‘I’d Do Anything For Love’ and Shaggy’s ‘Oh Carolina’ was topping the charts when we celebrated our 10th anniversary in April. ‘Jurassic Park’ was the top movie of the year.
1994
This was an historic year on the Kent coast and for Channel crossings. On 6th May 1994 the Channel Tunnel was opened with great ceremony in France and England. One consequence was that this made the storied Dover Western Docks railway station redundant and it shut to passengers on 25th September.
Two major changes in the UK were the launch of the National Lottery in November and the legalisation of Sunday trading for supermarkets and other businesses.
We also remember one of the worst maritime tragedies of the 20th century when the MS Estonia sank in the Baltic Sea on an overnight sailing between Stockholm and Tallinn. 852 souls perished.
The top two cars sold that year were the Ford Escort and the Ford Mondeo (in its first full year of sales). In music the best-selling single in 1994 was Wet Wet Wet’s ‘Love is All Around’ and Doop’s ‘Doop’ was topping the charts when we celebrated our 11th anniversary in April. ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’ was the top movie of the year.
1995
The UK passed a milestone as it was estimated 1% of the population now had internet access!
In many ways this was a year of hope as it saw cooperation on space walks and the start of peace deals and ceasefires in Northern Ireland and Bosnia. Microsoft launched a major upgrade of its systems with Windows 95 and the Office 95 suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access).
Prime Minister John Major’s government started to privatise British Rail. Meanwhile in local news the last ever train ferry left Dover Western Docks.
The top two cars sold that year were the Ford Escort and the Ford Fiesta. In music the best-selling single in 1995 was Robson and Jerome’s ‘Unchained Melody’ and The Outhere Brothers’ ‘Don’t Stop’ was topping the charts when we celebrated our 12th anniversary in April. ‘Batman Forever’ was the top movie of the year.
1996
In 1996 Harbour Shipping began a series of acquisitions of other customs clearance agencies beginning with A&G Freight Services that set us on track to become the large independent agency we are today. This followed a few lean years for the customs clearance industry in the aftermath of the 1992 Maastricht Treaty.
The first DVDs (and DVD players) started to appear in the UK and around the world, to replace VHS videos.
The IRA embarked on a major bombing campaign in the cities of London and Manchester causing multiple injuries and millions of pounds worth of damage. In another sad story the government banned handguns after the Dunblane primary school massacre in Scotland.
The top two cars sold that year were the Ford Fiesta and the Ford Escort. In music the best-selling single in 1996 was The Fugees ‘Killing Me Softly’ and The Prodigy’s ‘Firestarter’ was topping the charts when we celebrated our 13th anniversary in April. ‘Independence Day’ was the top movie of the year.
1997
Some years are more notable than others and 1997 was one of the busier years. In the May election, Tony Blair became Prime Minister with the new Labour Government. The Scots backed devolution of power from London to a Scottish Parliament. And in the Autumn came the news of Princess Diana’s death in Paris. Everyone remembers where they were when they heard the news….
Microsoft introduced Windows 97 and its Outlook email system.
The top two cars sold that year were the Ford Fiesta and the Ford Escort. In music the best-selling single in 1997 was Elton John’s tribute to Princess Diana ‘Candle in the Wind’ (actually the best-selling single of the entire decade). The Spice Girls’ ‘Mama’ was topping the charts when we celebrated our 14th anniversary in April. ‘The Full Monty’ was the top movie of the year.
1998
In a big change, Harbour Shipping’s Customs Clearance department moved into Lord Warden House at Dover Western Docks. The Ferry Booking and other departments continued to expand at Dover Eastern Docks East Camber Building. After a merger P&O Stena Line emerged as a new ferry operator.
Strikes by French dock-workers led to cross-Channel chaos as trucks were blockaded. This year was the third year of major cross-Channel disruption due to French strikes. Elsewhere in Europe there was heavy fighting between Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo. In Northern Ireland the Good Friday Agreement was signed. After the Omagh bomb the splinter ‘Real IRA’ group announced a ceasefire.
The top two cars sold that year were the Ford Fiesta and the Ford Escort (in its final year to be replaced by the Ford Focus). In music the best-selling single in 1998 was Cher’s ‘Believe’ and Run DMC’s ‘It’s Like That’ was topping the charts when we celebrated our 15th anniversary in April. ‘Titanic’ was the top movie of the year.
1999
This was the year of gearing up for the 3rd millennium, with the Millennium Dome, Millennium Wheel (London Eye) and Millennium Bridge in London, Millennium Commmission, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and many other projects taking shape to be ready on 31st December 1999.
In the last year of the century and the millennium, organisations, companies and IT departments (including Harbour Shipping) spent a lot of time and money on ‘fixing’ the Millennium Bug to ensure there were no disasters at midnight on New Year’s Eve. In the event nothing happened…. but it might have done!
In other news, the UK introduced a minimum wage for the first time and a train crash outside Paddington station led to 31 deaths.
The top two cars sold that year were the brand-new Ford Focus (replacement for the long-running Ford Escort) and the Ford Fiesta. In music the best-selling single in 1999 was Britney Spears’ ‘Baby One More Time’ and ‘Blame It On The Weatherman’ by Bewitched was topping the charts when we celebrated our 16th anniversary in April. ‘Star Wars – The Phantom Menace’ was the top movie of the year.
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For expert business-to-business Customs Clearance don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on Dover 01304 211919 / Email [email protected]
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