FOR some, this month’s referendum vote may feel like deja vu, 41 years after the last nationwide referendum on Britain's relationship with Europe.

Britain had become part of the European Communities, also known as the common market, in 1973 under Edward Heath's Tory Government, with Labour pledging a referendum on the decision as part of its election campaign the following year.

After a majority Labour Government was returned in October 1974, a referendum was set for the following June.

And when the public went to the polls on June 5, 1975, the appetite to remain part of the common market was significant, with 67 per cent of voters wanting Britain to retain its EC membership.

But will we see a repeat result when the country votes on EU membership this month? The Echo spoke to some of those who took part in the 1975 referendum for their views.

Alan Crystall, 81, from Cliff Parade, was councillor for 40 years and voted in 1975.

The former Lib Dem councillor, who stepped down last month, said: "It seemed to be quite multi-party at the time but everyone around me, including myself, were very pro the common market.

“I can remember going to a party in Thorpe Bay Gardens, hosted by Daphne White, who went on to be mayor of Southend. The atmosphere was fantastic and we were all very optimistic about the common market.

“I voted to stay in, partly because of my Jewish roots. I have ancestors that lived all over Europe. We fought in Spain and Germany for hundreds of years and the European Communities made sure that didn’t happen again.

"We need the EU to keep the peace. There is no point worrying about the small things. It’s important that we don’t fight again. There is strength in unity

“I want peace for our grandchildren and we secure that by staying in the EU. In the end, it has to be a gut feeling, there is no point worrying about the pennies, thinking about the £2.50 we would get back each day for leaving.

“The EU is a solid base for peace. People expect success far too quickly, it takes time. The EU is still young, it’s less than 50 years old.

“In the 1950s I travelled around Holland with some Dutch friends and they would not talk to any German people they met. That has changed now, it’s a good thing.

Sir David Amess, Tory MP for Southend West remembers history very differently. He said: “I voted no. I was very keen that we should trade our goods and services with our European partners, have educational and cultural links, work together in defence and foreign affairs matters but was totally opposed to a United States of Europe with one Government, one currency and Germany and France being the dominant partners.

“I also felt very strongly that we should have had a referendum in 1970 when we joined in the first place.

"I feel even more strongly now that we should leave the EU and I think that if we left the British people would benefit enormously from taking back control of our government, our borders and the new business opportunities that our leaving the EU would present us with.”

Ex-Rochford and Southend East MP, Sir Teddy Taylor, 79 believes that people don’t have all the information to make an informed decision.

He said: “I was the Scottish minister back then and I voted against staying in. Lots of people didn’t agree with me then. People thought it could be good for us but they weren’t sure in what way. I think memories from the war influenced people’s decision.

“I feel sad that people aren’t told the truth. We have had a loss in trade every year with Europe, except in 1980.

“People also aren’t being told how much it costs to be in the EU. It upsets me because there is so much information out there and people don’t know who to believe.

“Over the years, people have seen for themselves what it is like being in the EU.

"I think this June will see us vote out. People who are for Brexit are far more active and vocal than those who want to stay in, and those who are undecided may not even vote.”

Historian Arthur Woodward, 74, feels strongly that Britain needs to stand alone. He said: “I said no in 1975 and I will be doing the same this month.

“Not a great amount has changed over the years, but it’s all been a nuisance. I had a woodworking business in the 1970s and the government tried to get us to employ immigrants.

"I wouldn’t, they didn’t speak English and didn’t like taking orders, you can only employ people who understand you.

“People want to stay British, and we can’t do that by being in the EU.

“I think we will probably stay in because big businesses say they will lose too much trade. If that does happen, we need to seriously alter our policies."