It was a very good year...

Interesting to discover that the 999 emergency number system is only as old as me.  It started in 1937, my birth year.  This was back in the time when any phone call had to go through the operator and the need for such a system was highlighted when someone tried to alert the authorities to a serious fire but could not contact the operator who was busy with other calls.  Several people died in the fire, and the story got widespread publicity.  999 was chosen as it was relatively easy to dial in the dark on the rotating dial then in use.