In a detailed narrative that spans the rotary dial 1970s to the high-speed digital age of 2026, Lee-Power warns that we are trading our ‘human unity’ for screen time, and is calling on families and schools to find a vital middle ground.
A 1970s childhood: rotary dials and the lock on the phone
Lee-Power paints a vivid picture of a British household where the telephone was a precious resource.
Growing up in the 70s and 80s, technology was an exciting mystery, not a constant companion. In most houses, if you were fortunate, you had two phones – one upstairs and one downstairs. I can still visualize the red and green rotary phones where you dialed the number with your finger, and it took a long time for the dial to spin back.
Then came the trim-phones where you could finally press a button.
Because phone bills were expensive, Lee-Power recalls his mother putting a physical lock on the phone.
My mum and dad were entertainers and very popular, but with four of us – me, my brother, and my two sisters – the phone was always in demand. As a teenager, you’d sit upstairs on the phone chatting away, but you didn’t have the money to pay for it. Our parents did. That restriction made us value the time we spent talking.
The iconic red phone box: the original social hub
For Lee-Power, the red British phone box was more than just a place to make a call; it was a community landmark.
“It wasn’t just a phone box; it served a purpose. I remember my friends and I going to the red phone box just to keep out of the rain or the cold. You’d see people queuing outside, waiting to do their business, speak to a friend, or call the DHSS.
You’d put your two pence or ten pence in and wait for those famous ‘pips.’ There was no mobile in the house, so you went out into the world to connect.”
The 1982 revolution: Channel 4 and the Top 40
The early 80s were a time of “epic” cultural explosion.
I remember November 2nd, 1982, vividly – the launch of Channel 4. Before that, we only had three channels: BBC1, BBC2, and ITV. Suddenly, the music industry exploded. We saw the rise of epic music videos from Queen, Duran Duran, and Madness. They were exciting, cinematic, and new.
The ritual of music was a shared family experience.
Top of the Pops on a Thursday night at seven o’clock was the place to be. That’s where we learned the Top 40. We’d listen to the countdown on the radio, but seeing your favorite acts on TV was the highlight of the week.
Even when we went to our bedrooms to listen to records, it was a physical act – loading up the LP or the 45 single on the record player and playing it over and over again. It’s a memory I can still visualize today.
The table and the jukebox: family unity
Despite the “strict” rules of the era, Lee-Power credits his upbringing with fostering deep love and communication.
We sat at the table for every meal. If you went out after school, you had to be back in time for dinner. My mum and dad took turns to cook, and around that table, we had long conversations about fashion, music, and our lives. We even sat around the television together for the Eurovision Song Contest. We didn’t have mobile phones in our vocabulary; we had each other.
The weekends were equally communal.
We’d go to the market cafe for a cup of tea and a bacon sandwich, listening to Madness on the jukebox or playing the Space Invaders and pinball machines. We laughed, we chatted, we explored old derelict buildings. We rebelled, sure, and there were arguments, but we were never isolated.
The classroom contrast: then vs. now
As an actor who has taught drama in modern schools, Lee-Power sees a stark change from his own school days.
In the 80s, technology in school was a BBC computer, a calculator, or if you were really lucky, a calculator watch. Film club meant a projector and a screen – until my dad rented that first top-loading Ferguson VHS player, which felt like a massive family treat.
I wasn’t perfect at school. I had hyperactivity, speech problems, and I struggled with spelling and grammar. I left without many qualifications and didn’t get much support. So, I see the positive side today – I know how important tablets and phones are as assistive tools for students with special needs. I’m not denying that they are vital devices for development.
However, he notes a growing “obstacle” in the classroom.
As a drama teacher, I’ve seen how disruptive the phone is. You’re trying to nurture potential, to teach skills, and you’re constantly having to say, ‘Can you put your mobiles away, please?’ It’s frustrating. We have pupils who want to learn and do their exams, but the distraction of social media and the ‘trolls’ is always there.
A call for the “middle ground”
Lee-Power is now using his platform as an inspirational speaker to encourage families and schools to find a middle ground. He observes a modern “loneliness” even in crowded rooms, where heads are buried in phones and people cross the street without looking up.
I am not saying we should say no to the phone. I’m an actor; I use these platforms to promote my work. But we need discipline. I am encouraging schools to protect the learning environment for those who want to better themselves. And I am encouraging families to bring back that unity. Let’s set aside time to be open and share our problems.
Recreating the life
Lee-Power concludes with a personal plea to recreate the vibrant, connected life he remembers so well:
I often say to my wife, ‘Let’s put our phones down tonight.’ Let’s go on a date, go to the cinema, and enjoy a film without someone checking their messages or taking a selfie in the middle of it. I want to encourage families to sit down and talk about their day again. Let’s go back to the cafes and the parks and find things to do together. We need to find that middle ground where we use the phone as a tool, but we don’t allow it to dictate to us or stop us from growing together as people.
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