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From playgrounds to activities: 18 nostalgic pictures of childhood fun across the Black Country and Staffordshire

From playground games to after-school activities, we take a nostalgic look back at how children spent their free time from the 1960s through to the 1990s.

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By Tania Taylor
Published

Enjoy this shuffled gallery, and feel free to share your own memories in the comments at the end.

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Youngsters on the Springfield estate, Rugeley, in 1967, enjoying a play area.
Youngsters on the Springfield estate, Rugeley, 1967, enjoying a play area.
Staffordshire Regiment Museum, 1984: 'Steven Perkins is pictured trying on a replica 1775 grenadiers cap for size.... Steven, aged none and 60 other youngsters were among a party from the Cannock Police SPACE scheme who toured the museum. The trip is one of a series of activities being arranged by the police for local children keen to beat the long school holiday boredom blues.'
Staffordshire Regiment Museum, 1984: 'Steven Perkins is pictured trying on a replica 1775 grenadiers cap for size.... Steven, aged none and 60 other youngsters were among a party from the Cannock Police SPACE scheme who toured the museum. The trip is one of a series of activities being arranged by the police for local children keen to beat the long school holiday boredom blues.'
Lichfield Adventure Playground, 1975. Youngsters are pictured having fun with an old bus from the Midland Red Motor Company. Sandpits were also being provided for the playscheme which opened 10 hours a day during school holidays.
Lichfield Adventure Playground, 1975. Youngsters are pictured having fun with an old bus from the Midland Red Motor Company. Sandpits were also being provided for the playscheme which opened 10 hours a day during school holidays.
Lunt Community Centre in Bilston, 1993: Children on the centre's holiday play scheme were given a day's lesson in how to look after themselves by ambulance and fire officers. The photograph shows Natalie Bettles trying on a ambulance jacket, with Adele Stokes of the Staffordshire Ambulance Service.
Lunt Community Centre in Bilston, 1993: Children on the centre's holiday play scheme were given a day's lesson in how to look after themselves by ambulance and fire officers. The photograph shows Natalie Bettles trying on a ambulance jacket, with Adele Stokes of the Staffordshire Ambulance Service.