Sandwell retro: 18 memories of 1970s nostalgia captured on camera

Take a trip back to the 1970s and explore life across Sandwell.

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We’ve dug into the Express & Star archives to uncover these retro images – see if any familiar faces or places spark your memories.

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Business in the chainmaking trade was being generated by North Sea oil. The photograph shows chainmaker Isaiah Preston in Cradley Heath with a master link assembly in April 1977.
Business in the chainmaking trade was being generated by North Sea oil. The photograph shows chainmaker Isaiah Preston in Cradley Heath with a master link assembly in April 1977.
1st Lion Farm Scout Troop, Arley Close, Oldbury. The troop were staging a sponsored marathon hopscotch to raise money for a holiday in France. The photograph shows Deputy Mayoress of Sandwell Joan Tromans with Cub Scout Christopher Cooke, October 1979.
1st Lion Farm Scout Troop, Arley Close, Oldbury. The troop were staging a sponsored marathon hopscotch to raise money for a holiday in France. The photograph shows Deputy Mayoress of Sandwell Joan Tromans with Cub Scout Christopher Cooke, October 1979.
Nurses from Sandwell hospitals were presented with certificates to mark the completion of their training by William Timmington of the Area Health Authority. The photograph shows (from left) Yvonne Moore, Floreth Reynolds, Jacqueline Morgan, Catherine Webb and Elaine Clements, May 1979.
Nurses from Sandwell hospitals were presented with certificates to mark the completion of their training by William Timmington of the Area Health Authority. The photograph shows (from left) Yvonne Moore, Floreth Reynolds, Jacqueline Morgan, Catherine Webb and Elaine Clements, May 1979.
Brenda Viney, a pupil at Holly Lodge High School in Smethwick, was the only female entrant in a 1976 football contest, open to all Sandwell schools, which was due to take place before a charity football match between BBC sports commentators and a BRMB Radio team in aid of Warley Cancer Research, at Hadley Playing Fields in Waterloo Road in Smethwick.
Brenda Viney, a pupil at Holly Lodge High School in Smethwick, was the only female entrant in a 1976 football contest, open to all Sandwell schools, which was due to take place before a charity football match between BBC sports commentators and a BRMB Radio team in aid of Warley Cancer Research, at Hadley Playing Fields in Waterloo Road in Smethwick.
Crowds gathered with flags, including Brownies, waiting for Her Majesty the Queen who was visiting Sandwell in July 1977.
Crowds gathered with flags, including Brownies, waiting for Her Majesty the Queen who was visiting Sandwell in July 27, 1977.