Get ready for a little nostalgia with a smile as we look back at life across the Black Country, Wolverhampton and Staffordshire.
From cheeky high-street pranks and summer jubilee parades to hen nights, garden windmills and some wonderfully unexpected moments, these archive pictures capture local life at its most uplifting.
Which ones make you chuckle or bring back a happy memory? Share your thoughts in the comments!
- Remember when Walsall drew the crowds? Step back into its bustling past here
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17. Washing cars to keep the air ambulance flying high
Powering through a sudsy charity challenge! On September 26, 1992, hard-working car washers Kevin Hunt, Graham Kemsley, and Mick Kemsley clean down a Ford Fiesta XR2 alongside young helpers Brian Cullen and Truudi Kemsley during a community car wash at the council's Lammascote Road depot in Stafford. Organized by the borough council cleansing department staff alongside local cubs and scouts, the energetic team armed themselves with sponges, buckets, and pressure washers to raise essential funds for the county's air ambulance service. | Express & Star archive
18. Taking one for the team as winter playground mischief strikes right on target
Talk about perfect split-second timing! Young Keith Keeling, a pupil from Kate's Hill Primary School in Dudley, gets caught squarely in the crossfire during a chilly walk home in January 1956. The brilliant action snapshot captures the exact moment a direct-hit snowball splatters across the schoolboy's face and flat cap. A timeless image of winter childhood innocence, playful schoolyard rivalries, and the simple, snowy fun that generations of Black Country kids enjoyed on their way home after the final bell. | Express & Star archive
19. Dressing up in true patriotic style for the Jubilee
A winning trio! On June 10, 1977, prizewinners Mrs Irene Mason, Mr Jack Large, and Mrs Ella Hawthorne strike a joyful pose following a Jubilee fancy dress parade at the Roseville Centre in Coseley. From Union Jack hats and patriotic bow ties to creative home-spun outfits adorned with bread wrappers and royal tins, the festive trio showed off the absolute best of local party spirit during Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee celebrations. | Express & Star archive
20. Swinging into summer freedom at the local playground
The ultimate 1970s playground adventure! Youngsters including Michael Greenfield take over the wooden climbing frames and rope swings at Caldmore Adventure Playground in Walsall during a sunny August in 1975. With timber beams to scale and thick ropes to swing from, the bustling park provided endless summer excitement for local kids making the absolute most of their school holidays. | Express & Star archive