NEWS COPY
England’s triumph at the Cricket World Cup, an increase in public interest in sustainability - and the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special are among the BEST things to happen in 2019.
A poll of 2,000 adults found other highlights of a difficult year included the rise of the England women’s football team, and the banning of single-use plastics.
One in 10 also selected Stormzy’s headline set at Glastonbury as their best bit of 2019 while another 14 per cent enjoyed the week-long summer heatwave.
However, Brexit dragging on endlessly, Thomas Cook going under and the NHS crisis were considered some of the worst things to have happened last year.
The research was commissioned by SPANA, which provides free veterinary treatment to working animals in developing countries.
Their chief executive Geoffrey Dennis said: “People in Britain have a clear idea about the worst aspects of 2019 - and there are some surprises.
“While some of the things that made the top 50 are understandable, others seem distinctly trivial.
“The outcomes of reality TV shows or sporting events might seem like a big deal at the time, but it’s important that people keep perspective.
“The fact is that these kind of things are very minor compared to the problems faced by many people and animals in the world’s poorest communities.
“Working animals overseas endure unimaginably hard lives and for most of them 2019 has been a year of hardship.
“These horses, donkeys and camels must work every day, often carrying backbreaking loads in terrible conditions, without the food, water, rest and vital vet care they need.”
Other popular moments from 2019 included the birth of Meghan and Harry's first child, Lewis Hamilton winning his sixth world championship and the Downton Abbey movie.
But the pound getting weaker, England losing the Rugby World Cup Final and the end of Poldark saddened adults this year.
More than eight in 10 describe feeling emotionally affected by current events that don’t directly relate to their personal lives.
A third of respondents even said an event in the public eye had affected them to the extent of either making their day - or ruining it.
Nearly one in three adults also admit to complaining more about trivial issues than serious ones.
But more than four in 10 believe emotional engagement with current issues sometimes serves as a distraction from more pressing ones in their personal lives.
It also emerged a sixth enjoy the mental boost that having a good moan gives them, with one in 10 feeling more positive afterwards.
In fact, SPANA’s study exposed Brits as a nation of moaners - complaining, on average, 42 times a week.
Geoffrey Dennis of SPANA added: “The temptation to complain is wholly understandable, and having a moan every now and then is no bad thing.
“People in the UK seem aware that moaning is common – and that it’s often about very trivial matters, like the weather. However, it’s worth keeping in mind that others have to deal with far greater problems every day.
“In developing countries, many working animals have to walk huge distances, pulling heavy loads in dangerous environments, working in temperatures of over 40 degrees.
“These animals often have no veterinary treatment available to them when they are sick or injured. That’s where SPANA comes in – preventing suffering and ensuring that these hardworking animals receive the care they so desperately need.”
Top 40 best things to happen in 2019:
1. The banning of single-use plastics
2. Increase of public interest in climate change and sustainability
3. England winning the Cricket World Cup
4. Theresa May standing down as PM
5. Gavin and Stacey Christmas special
6. Week-long heatwave in summer '19
7. Ant and Dec reuniting for I'm A Celeb
8. The rise of the England Women's football team
9. Lewis Hamilton winning his sixth world championship
10. First picture of a black hole being taken
11. England winning the Rugby World Cup semi-finals
12. Liverpool winning the Champions League
13. Stormzy headlining Glastonbury
14. The birth of Meghan and Harry's first child
15. Season 2 of Fleabag
16. The Downton Abbey movie
17. Greggs vegan sausage rolls
18. Toy Story 4 hitting cinemas
19. David Attenborough joining Netflix
20. The Great British Bake Off 2019
21. The 'Joker' movie
22. The Avengers: Endgame
23. London Pride 2019 attracting record amount of attendees
24. Progression of the 'Me Too' movement
25. Season 3 of Stranger Things
26. Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas wedding in Vegas
27. Frozen 2
28. Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's duet at the Oscars
29. Return of 'The Crown' on Netflix
30. His Dark Materials TV series
31. Confirmation of a 2020 Friends reunion
32. 2019 season of Love Island
33. The sequel to 'The Handmaid's Tale', published after 34 years
34. Take That going on tour
35. Rise of CBD-infused food and drink
36. Second season of 'You' being announced
37. Release of IPhone 11
38. New IPhone emojis
39. New episode of 'Rick and Morty'
40. McFly reuniting and announcing a tour
Top 10 worst things to happen in 2019:
1. Brexit dragging on endlessly
2. Never getting a GP appointment because of lack of NHS funding
3. Thomas Cook going under
4. Constant rain all summer
5. Another election
6. The pound becoming even weaker in relation to foreign currencies
7. Trump's visit to the UK
8. Flights being grounded at Heathrow because of drone protests
9. England losing the Rugby World Cup final
10. Quality Street tubs shrinking again
ENDS
