In the late 1950s the Conservative government of Harold Macmillan dramatically changed its attitude and appointed Edward Heath to submit an application and lead negotiations for Britain to enter the Common Market.

Britain joined the Organization for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC) in 1961 and worked towards the reduction of trade restrictions between members. Britain was suspicious of the French Schumann plan to establish a supranational body regulating the production and sale of coal and steel.

The United Kingdom European Communities membership referendum was a public vote that took place on 5 June 1975, on whether the United Kingdom should remain a member of the European Communities which was principally the European Economic Community (the Common Market) as it was known at the time.

The electorate expressed significant support for EC membership, with 67% in favor on a national turnout of 64%.

45 years later the UK is leaving the EU – for better or worse – time will tell.

The photograph above was taken by Harold Chapman, (*1927), a renown English photographer, whose work is reflecting life in the UK and France from the early 1950-s until today.

The woman looking outside the window, has obviously an opinion, firm enough to state it also publicly. While her wish came not true at the time(1975), it does now 45 years later, as the UK leaves the EU on January 31, 2020.