BACK in 1975, Monty Python and the Holy Grail was riding high at the cinema, West Ham beat Fulham in the FA Cup final and a young punk band called The Sex Pistols first took to the stage.

Harold Wilson, the Labour Prime Minister, took Britain to the polls in a referendum to decide if Britain should stay part of the European Economic Community.

The EEC was created in 1957 to introduce economic integration to the countries of Western Europe.

The United Kingdom had joined the EEC in 1973, but it was in Harold Wilson’s election manifesto that he would hold a referendum to gauge support for the membership.

The Labour Party was traditionally reluctant of EEC membership. There were fears about loss of economic independence, freedom of governments and the Common Agricultural Policy.

Unusually, the Labour cabinet was split over the referendum and members campaigned on both sides of the question.

More than 67 per cent of British voters backed the Government’s campaign to stay in the EEC, or Common Market, on June 6.

In Oxford, 207 polling staff and 103 ballot boxes were placed across the city.

More than 20 schools were used as polling stations and many declared a one-day holiday, similar to during a general election.

Roger Taylor, chief administrative assistant, warned the Oxford Mail: “It’s going to be a marathon job.”

Demonstrations and meetings were held across the county in the run-up to the referendum, including a group of 50 anti-Common Market demonstrators who marched through the city on June 4. But Oxfordshire voters chose overwhelmingly to stay in the Common Market.

The decision, given at 3.30pm, was announced as 179,938 votes in favour and 64,643 against.

The final decision was met with differing opinions.

Evan Luard, Labour MP for Oxford, said the decision was “magnificent”.

He said: “I am delighted with the result, not only because I am sure it’s in the best long term interests of this county, but for both economic and political reasons.”

He had previously warned pulling out of Europe would result in losses to the city’s industry.

Others were less positive about the decision. Bill Conroy, a lecturer in economics and industrial relations at Oxford University, said: “We may be poor but we are still a good market and Europe needs our trade.

“We will survive in or out of the EEC – but in trade terms, it would make more sense to keep out.”