Home 'I've been on my bike' badge

'I've been on my bike' badge

Object

Badge

Production date

c. 1981

Object number

2023.55

Physical Description

Circular metal badge with a light blue background design. The darker blue text 'I've been on my bike!' looks as free handwritten.

Object history

This badge was made and worn by local activist Ian Rathbone. It is in response to a quote by the Employment Secretary Norman Tebbit at the 1981 Conservation Conference "I grew up in the '30s with an unemployed father. He didn't riot. He got on his bike and looked for work, and he kept looking till he found it." This was widely perceived as shifting the blame for unemployment away from the government and onto the 2.5 million people out of work in the UK.

Associated Person

Ian Rathbone (Owner)

Material

Metal

Dimension

Diameter (Front): 3.7cm

On display?

No

Inscription

I've been on my bike!