From royal visits and Silver Jubilee celebrations to factory floors and everyday moments, these photographs offer a fascinating glimpse of life across the Black Country and Staffordshire in 1977.
It was a year of big occasions and ordinary routines, with plenty of characters and stories captured along the way. We’ve delved into the archives to bring you a collection of pictures that show how much has changed - and how much remains familiar.
Some scenes may bring back memories of places you knew, people you remember or jobs you once did, while others offer a glimpse into a world that has almost disappeared. Take a look through the gallery and see which pictures spark a memory.
Do you recognise anyone? Where were you in 1977? And what do you remember most about the year? Share your memories in the comments.
Take a look back at 1990 in our previous gallery here.
- You can enjoy this and more with our weekly FREE Nostalgia Newsletter - with scores of archive pictures and exclusive features on the history of Wolverhampton, Staffordshire and the Black Country - all sent to your inbox every week. Sign up here.
5. A second chance at saying ‘I do’
Derrick and Jean Morris had been married for 17 years when they decided to renew their wedding vows at St Edmund’s Church, Dudley, in August 1977, following a rocky patch in their marriage. Derrick, licensee of the Green Man pub in Dudley, and Jean were joined by their two sons, aged 11 and 16, for the special occasion. The couple are pictured outside the church raising a toast to their renewed commitment. It is a reminder that marriages, like life, can have their ups and downs. Do you know anyone who has renewed their wedding vows? Would you mark a milestone in your marriage in the same way? | Express & Star archive
6. Death-defying stunts at the park
The Hell Drivers stunt team brought their spectacular display to Walsall Arboretum in June 1977, giving crowds a chance to watch a series of daring driving feats. Stunt shows like this were a popular attraction at outdoor events, with audiences turning out to see drivers push cars to their limits. Do you remember watching the Hell Drivers? What is the most daring stunt you remember seeing at a local event? | Express & Star archive
7. Precision work on the factory floor
In September 1977, Terry Lunn is pictured measuring a spring at Dart Spring in West Bromwich, beside a Wafio 100 Automatic Spring Coiling machine. It is a snapshot of the skilled and often highly precise work that went on inside local factories, where machinery and craftsmanship worked side by side. Do you remember Dart Spring or working in a similar factory? What sort of machines did you use in your job? | Express & Star archive
8. A glimpse inside Cosford’s aerospace museum
Civic heads from Shropshire and the West Midlands were guests at RAF Cosford on or around January 15, 1977, when they were given a conducted tour of the station’s aerospace museum. Squadron Leader Peter Coombes is pictured showing the party around the rocket section, where they saw a collection of Second World War German rockets alongside more conventional aircraft. The museum has changed considerably over the years, but how many of you remember visiting Cosford in its earlier days? What do you remember seeing there? | Express & Star archive