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34 pictures: A throwback to the careers that shaped our Midlands communities

Tomorrow marks the start of National Careers Week, a UK-wide celebration of careers guidance and a chance to inspire young people as they explore their future paths.

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By Tania Taylor
Published

In this gallery, we look back at the jobs and careers that have shaped lives across the region over the years—from first steps after school or college right through to retirement. 

From the military and construction to engineering and sales, take a step back in time and see how work has looked through the decades. 

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Learning the basics on machine tools in the early 1970s at Dowty Aerospace, part of a long tradition of skilled craftsmen shaping engineering and aviation. Picture: Alec Brew’s Boulton Paul Aircraft
Learning the basics on machine tools in the early 1970s at Dowty Aerospace, Wolverhampton, part of a long tradition of skilled craftsmen shaping engineering and aviation. Picture: Alec Brew’s Boulton Paul Aircraft
Mrs Bason, who was station master /mistress of Eaton Station, near Lydbury North. Details are: 'Bishop's Castle Railway: Mrs Annie Bason, station master at Eaton Station, handing a letter to driver George Hotchkiss. Tom Cadwallader, guard, at rear of train. Photo taken on February 24, 1932, by General Picture News, shared by Ken Lucas, Archivist of Bishop's Castle Railway Society. Eaton station was demolished in 1936.
Mrs Annie Bason, station master at Eaton Station near Lydbury North, handing a letter to driver George Hotchkiss, with guard Tom Cadwallader at the rear of the train. Photo taken on February 24, 1932, by General Picture News and shared by Ken Lucas, archivist of the Bishop's Castle Railway Society. Eaton Station was demolished in 1936.
1984: 'Four lucky youngsters in line for a meeting with Princess Diana when she visits the Multi-Skills Youth Training Scheme in Castle Gates, Shrewsbury, on Tuesday. Karen Davies, Tracey Brookes, Sharon Bradley and Susan Davies spend two days a week at Shrewsbury College of Arts and Technology and yesterday were involved in a practice infant bath session as part of their caring training. Two of the girls, Karen and Sharon, both 16, have made two cuddly toys in the workshops at the Multi-Skills centre to present to the Princess, one for Prince William and the other for Prince Harry.'
1984: 'Four lucky youngsters in line for a meeting with Princess Diana when she visits the Multi-Skills Youth Training Scheme in Castle Gates, Shrewsbury. Karen Davies, Tracey Brookes, Sharon Bradley and Susan Davies spend two days a week at Shrewsbury College of Arts and Technology and yesterday were involved in a practice infant bath session as part of their caring training.'
Laying the foundations at Cound Moor Village Hall on 18 December 1985 are, from left, Mike Davies, John Green and Hugh Richards, all of Shrewsbury. The photo, possibly showing an extension to the hall, captures a moment from the Government’s Community Programme, which provided training and work opportunities for the long-term unemployed.
Laying the foundations at Cound Moor Village Hall on 18 December 1985 are, from left, Mike Davies, John Green and Hugh Richards, all of Shrewsbury. The photo, possibly showing an extension to the hall, captures a moment from the Government’s Community Programme, which provided training and work opportunities for the long-term unemployed.
'Just passed our tests.' Ken Parker, Alan Scriven and Dave Fryer, Walsall, December 1986. Picture: Next Stop Please by Alan Scriven
'Just passed our tests.' An earlier picture of Alan Scriven (centre), with Ken Parker (left), and Dave Fryer, in Walsall, December 1986. Picture: Next Stop Please by Alan Scriven
'On the Wackies.' Alan Scriven, who had a long career in the bus industry including as a driver, recalls the period known as the Wacky Races, when Midland Red buses in Telford competed directly with Shearings. Photograph from Next Stop Please by Alan Scriven.
'On the Wackies.' Alan Scriven, who had a long career in the bus industry including as a driver, recalls the period known as the Wacky Races, when Midland Red buses in Telford competed directly with Shearings. Photograph from Next Stop Please by Alan Scriven.
July 4, 1967. The caption reads: 'The foundry industry's training centres are concentrated in the Midlands. This picture is from the craft training centre at West Bromwich where the exercise being supervised is that of pouring molten metal into a mould. Wednesbury College of Technology is the home of the National Foundry College.'
July 4, 1967. The caption reads: 'The foundry industry's training centres are concentrated in the Midlands. This picture is from the craft training centre at West Bromwich where the exercise being supervised is that of pouring molten metal into a mould. Wednesbury College of Technology is the home of the National Foundry College.'
April 29, 1966: 'Performing the 'service' potato planting on a farm at Bicton.'
April 29, 1966: carrying out the traditional “service” potato planting on a Bicton farm.
October 27, 1948: 'Shrewsbury postman William Edward Mullock is here pictured busily making the 4 o'clock collection yesterday afternoon from a hexagonal pillar box.' Picture: Frank Gortony. The picture was likely taken in The Square, Shrewsbury.
October 27, 1948: Shrewsbury postman William Edward Mullock making the 4 o’clock collection from a hexagonal pillar box in The Square — a familiar daily ritual from a gentler post-war Shrewsbury. Photograph by Frank Gortony.