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Nostalgia: 27 feel-good glimpses of the Black Country and Staffordshire

We take a journey through the years to revisit some of the most heartwarming and memorable moments from days gone by.

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By Tania Taylor
Published

From a Wolves legend caught in a rare gardening snap to a cat on the pitch at Molineux, a Bloxwich club’s record-breaking trip to Blackpool in the 1970s and Ivy Bourne welcoming five babies in 12 months in 1953.

This gallery is sure to bring a smile.

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Celebrations for the Queen's silver jubilee in June 1977. The caption reads 'And some more knees-up from mums in Paget Close, Sedgley.'
Celebrations for the Queen's silver jubilee in June 1977. The caption reads 'And some more knees-up from mums in Paget Close, Sedgley.'
March 22, 1975: 'A little lady with a big hat... nine-year-old Sharon Johnson with her ladybird hat during the Easter Bonnet parade at Tameside Junior School, West Bromwich, yesterday. The hat was made by her mother.'
March 22, 1975: 'A little lady with a big hat... nine-year-old Sharon Johnson with her ladybird hat during the Easter Bonnet parade at Tameside Junior School, West Bromwich, yesterday. The hat was made by her mother.'
February 1947: 'To help worshippers to keep warm in church, the Rev W Ellis, vicar of St George's, Wolverhampton, offered to fill hot water bottles at the vicarage. He is seen doing this with the housekeeper, Mrs Morpuss, and other parishioners in the vicarage kitchen,' The background was that the winter of 1947 was both harsh and there were coal shortages leading to a fuel crisis and power cuts.
February 1947: 'To help worshippers to keep warm in church, the Rev W Ellis, vicar of St George's, Wolverhampton, offered to fill hot water bottles at the vicarage. He is seen doing this with the housekeeper, Mrs Morpuss, and other parishioners in the vicarage kitchen,' The background was that the winter of 1947 was both harsh and there were coal shortages leading to a fuel crisis and power cuts.
March 19, 1975: 'St Edmund's C. of E. School, in Beechwood Road, Dudley, celebrated the new building's first anniversary with an open night. Two eight-year-olds, Tracy Walker and Jane Round, are seen modelling to their classmates the Easter bonnets which they have made. The school moved from its old premises on Council Hill last year...'
March 19, 1975: 'St Edmund's C. of E. School, in Beechwood Road, Dudley, celebrated the new building's first anniversary with an open night. Two eight-year-olds, Tracy Walker and Jane Round, are seen modelling to their classmates the Easter bonnets which they have made. The school moved from its old premises on Council Hill last year...'
October 12, 1953, the caption reads: 'Five babies within 12 months is the proud record of 28-year-old Mrs Ivy Bourne, of 57 Valley Road, Walsall, now a mother of nine. In November 1951 triplets (Jean, Rosamund and Margery) were born followed by twins (Vera and Leslie) in November 1952. here is Mrs Bourne with the twins and triplets.'
October 12, 1953, the caption reads: 'Five babies within 12 months is the proud record of 28-year-old Mrs Ivy Bourne, of 57 Valley Road, Walsall, now a mother of nine. In November 1951 triplets (Jean, Rosamund and Margery) were born followed by twins (Vera and Leslie) in November 1952. here is Mrs Bourne with the twins and triplets.'
An outing by Bloxwich Memorial Club to Blackpool in August 1975. The caption on the back of this print reads: 'Mrs Janet Allen of Valley Road, Bloxwich, trying to make a sand castle, but every time down came the demolishing spade of John Jones, also of Valley Road, Bloxwich.' The story pasted on the back reads: 'Bloxwich Memorial Club lived up to its boast of providing the biggest and best outings in the Midlands when it took 3,500 people on the annual seaside trip to Blackpool. The club hired 70 coaches and had to book an entire car park at Blackpool to accommodate them all. Each child on the trip was given £1 spending money by the club and thousands of bottles and pop and packets of crisps were distributed. The Blackpool outing is run each year by the Harrison Street Club and is believed to be one of the biggest of its kind in the country. Other outings for club members have included trips to Moscow and New York.'
An outing by Bloxwich Memorial Club to Blackpool in August 1975. The caption on the back of this print reads: 'Mrs Janet Allen of Valley Road, Bloxwich, trying to make a sand castle, but every time down came the demolishing spade of John Jones, also of Valley Road, Bloxwich.' The story pasted on the back reads: 'Bloxwich Memorial Club lived up to its boast of providing the biggest and best outings in the Midlands when it took 3,500 people on the annual seaside trip to Blackpool. The club hired 70 coaches and had to book an entire car park at Blackpool to accommodate them all. Each child on the trip was given £1 spending money by the club and thousands of bottles and pop and packets of crisps were distributed. The Blackpool outing is run each year by the Harrison Street Club and is believed to be one of the biggest of its kind in the country. Other outings for club members have included trips to Moscow and New York.'
February 8, 1978: 'They're off, and running.' Those are only details on back of this print, apart from 'Frank F. Harrison School, Walsall,' but it is obviously a pancake race, clearly at the school.
February 8, 1978: 'They're off, and running.' Those are only details on back of this print, apart from 'Frank F. Harrison School, Walsall,' but it is obviously a pancake race, clearly at the school.