Graham Dudley is pictured tending the Bushbury Road graveyard in Heath Town after Holy Trinity Church launched a £10,000 appeal in 1989 to keep him in his job as gravedigger and gardener. The church said he had transformed the large graveyard and feared it would return to an almost derelict state if his post was lost. Do you remember Graham Dudley or the Bushbury Road graveyard as it looked in the 1980s?placeholder image
Graham Dudley is pictured tending the Bushbury Road graveyard in Heath Town after Holy Trinity Church launched a £10,000 appeal in 1989 to keep him in his job as gravedigger and gardener. The church said he had transformed the large graveyard and feared it would return to an almost derelict state if his post was lost. Do you remember Graham Dudley or the Bushbury Road graveyard as it looked in the 1980s? | Express & Star archive

Can you remember 1989? 55 nostalgic pictures from the Black Country and Staffordshire

By Tania Taylor
Published 28th Aug 2026, 02:00 GMT

How the region looked more than 35 years ago

1989 was a year of change, character and plenty of memorable moments across Wolverhampton, the Black Country and Staffordshire.

From busy factories and striking workers to high street scenes, community campaigns, local celebrations and everyday moments, these archive pictures offer a glimpse of how the region looked more than 35 years ago.

There are familiar faces, places that have changed and even a few intriguing mysteries along the way. Take a trip back to 1989 and see how many people, businesses and landmarks you can remember.

  • Missed our gallery of Wolverhampton in 1980? See the pictures 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.
Doug Smith, Janet Woolaway and Pete Wesley prepare for an open day at Autorite (Willenhall) Ltd on Ashmore Lake Industrial Estate in September 1989. The event offered a glimpse inside the commercial vehicle business and its work in Willenhall. Do you remember Autorite, or visiting open days like this?

45. Getting ready for a big open day in Willenhall

Doug Smith, Janet Woolaway and Pete Wesley prepare for an open day at Autorite (Willenhall) Ltd on Ashmore Lake Industrial Estate in September 1989. The event offered a glimpse inside the commercial vehicle business and its work in Willenhall. Do you remember Autorite, or visiting open days like this? | Express & Star archive

Photo Sales
Ted Gray and Jane Bradley show off a crystal post horn made by Royal Doulton Crystal at Amblecote in July 1989. The unusual piece was created to mark the opening of the Dudley Crystal Festival at Broadfield House Glass Museum in Kingswinford. Do you remember the Dudley Crystal Festival, or visiting Broadfield House Glass Museum?

46. A crystal horn to mark a special occasion

Ted Gray and Jane Bradley show off a crystal post horn made by Royal Doulton Crystal at Amblecote in July 1989. The unusual piece was created to mark the opening of the Dudley Crystal Festival at Broadfield House Glass Museum in Kingswinford. Do you remember the Dudley Crystal Festival, or visiting Broadfield House Glass Museum? | Express & Star archive

Photo Sales
Goodyear workers tackle the aftermath of a burst silo pipe at the Bushbury plant in May 1989, after carbon dust spilled out and covered hundreds of homes in the Low Hill area. One worker wears face protection as the clean-up gets under way. Do you remember the day the black dust came down over Low Hill?

47. Carbon dust covers Low Hill in a messy morning

Goodyear workers tackle the aftermath of a burst silo pipe at the Bushbury plant in May 1989, after carbon dust spilled out and covered hundreds of homes in the Low Hill area. One worker wears face protection as the clean-up gets under way. Do you remember the day the black dust came down over Low Hill? | Express & Star archive

Photo Sales
Middleway Middle School pupils Hayley Duke, Donna Buckley and Amanda Frampton show off their growing nails as part of a fundraising drive for Staffordshire Ambulance Service in May 1989. The unusual challenge was helping to raise money for a local cause. Do you remember taking part in fundraising challenges like this at school?

48. Nail-biting fundraising for the ambulance service

Middleway Middle School pupils Hayley Duke, Donna Buckley and Amanda Frampton show off their growing nails as part of a fundraising drive for Staffordshire Ambulance Service in May 1989. The unusual challenge was helping to raise money for a local cause. Do you remember taking part in fundraising challenges like this at school? | Express & Star archive

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