Going back a bit further I remember 1976 being a particularly hot summer but don't think the temperatures reached the level they have reached recently.
1976 was hot for longer, something like 10 weeks or more but it was also accompanied by a drought, I think from what I read earlier that 1976 peak temperature was something like the 11th or 12th hottest on record but again that may have only been 1 day with those around it being 30 degrees while now they are saying today may reach 40 degrees.
There are differences between then and now which is amazingly 46 years ago

Yes people did just get on with it and there possibly weren't as many snowflakes however the above average death rate also went up by around 30%, it probably did make the news back then with tips on what to do and how to keep cool but people have forgotten that now and just like to complain about how things are today (Apparently it's all the fault of wishy washy liberal / lefties and the BBC for having the temerity to report news

)
Let's not forget that the average population age is higher now than back in 76, median age was 34 back then and 40.5 years now while life expectancy has increased from 72.5 years to 81.5 years
People are more over weight which also brings health issues in coping with the heat
Back in 76 we were only 31 years on from the end of WW2 so people were used to hardship and putting up with things / making the best of what you had and not complaining / whinging as many had seen death and hard times for real