FOR News Shopper, 1971 was a year of controversial stories. There was a probe into the link between smoking and cancer, a petition to bring back the death sentence and a series of slightly sleazy profiles of young ladies.

In 2008 it is common knowledge smoking leads to lung cancer, but in 1971 it was an unproven theory which saw a war of words between doctors and cigarette makers.

On February 25 News Shopper's front page allowed a Sidcup doctor to reveal his research.

He said: "In our practice we have had 25 lung cancer deaths over the last five years. All the victims were smokers. One was only in his thirties."

Current attitudes to smoking-caused health problems show the doctor's campaign was successful.

An ultimately unsuccessful campaign featured in News Shopper in 1971 was The Citizen's Protection Society's efforts to bring back the death sentence for murderers.

On October 14 the front page carried the headline Hang Killers' and reported the London-based organisation had the backing of 25,000 members.

Next to the headline was a picture of a little old lady smiling while cuddling her poodle. I'm happy to report the photo was for a separate article.

Picturing ladies on the front page was a running theme in News Shopper in 1971, but it was usually a young lady.

On January 7 there was a large photo of Petts Wood resident Tara Soppet lying seductively on a couch holding a trumpet.

On June 21 there was a large photo of Croydon resident Anne Usher posing on a bench in a park. A profile told the reader "she sometimes has time to cook cakes for fetes".

These regular profiles of lovely girls' were not related to news stories in any way.

Perhaps News Shopper's editor at the time was hoping for a job at Playboy magazine.

I'm sure some readers would like News Shopper to bring back this regular feature.

But those same readers should take note News Shopper is fully staffed for photographers at the moment.

IN 1971

  • In music Led Zeppelin's fourth album was the biggest selling of the year and Imagine by John Lennon was the top selling single. The Christmas number one belonged to comedian Benny Hill and his song Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West).
  • Notable births included Ali G and Borat comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, English actress Rachel Weisz, Scottish actors David Tennant and Ewan McGregor, American rapper Tupac Shakur and Irish footballer Roy Keane.
  • The big films of the year were Dirty Harry, Fiddler on the Roof, The Last Picture Show and The French Connection, with the latter winning the Oscar for best picture.
  • On television the comedy show The Two Ronnies made its debut on April 10 and ran until 1987, becoming a classic with repeats still regularly shown today.
  • Notable deaths included The Doors frontman Jim Morrison, French fashion designer Coco Chanel and American jazz musician Louis Armstrong.

1971 STAR FACT

  • On January 1 1971 the last commercial for cigarettes was broadcast in the US. Adverts for cigarettes were banned due to increasing concerns over the health risks of smoking.