Talk about rolling out the red carpet! Cyclist Miss Constance Jessop gets an unexpected, roaring ovation from the lined crowds as she pedals past the town hall on July 27, 1977. The Moncrieffe Street resident had simply hopped on her pushbike to pop into town for a bit of everyday shopping, completely oblivious to the fact that the main roads had been sealed off in eager anticipation of Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee visit. Finding herself pedalling right down the grand procession route, Miss Jessop took it all in stride, playing along with a wave and proving that every town needs its own surprise cycling royalty!placeholder image
Talk about rolling out the red carpet! Cyclist Miss Constance Jessop gets an unexpected, roaring ovation from the lined crowds as she pedals past the town hall on July 27, 1977. The Moncrieffe Street resident had simply hopped on her pushbike to pop into town for a bit of everyday shopping, completely oblivious to the fact that the main roads had been sealed off in eager anticipation of Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee visit. Finding herself pedalling right down the grand procession route, Miss Jessop took it all in stride, playing along with a wave and proving that every town needs its own surprise cycling royalty! | Express & Star archive

21 nostalgic pictures that prove the good old days were never dull

By Tania Taylor
Published 22nd Oct 2026, 02:00 BST

A trip down memory lane packed with fun, familiar faces and pictures to make you grin

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
  • 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.
A pub effort in Walsall! Licensee Fred Clarke and his wife Pat join jovial regulars at the Spring Cottage Pub in Bloxwich on April 26, 1983, to push over a massive multi-tiered tower of copper coins. Built up over several months, the giant pile of pennies was created to raise vital funds for the Wolverhampton branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, with local drinkers having a grand time guessing the final total before the big push.

21. Pushing a monster pile of pennies for charity

A pub effort in Walsall! Licensee Fred Clarke and his wife Pat join jovial regulars at the Spring Cottage Pub in Bloxwich on April 26, 1983, to push over a massive multi-tiered tower of copper coins. Built up over several months, the giant pile of pennies was created to raise vital funds for the Wolverhampton branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, with local drinkers having a grand time guessing the final total before the big push. | Express & Star archive

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