From adventure playgrounds and street parties to swimming pools, seaside trips, holiday schemes and after-school clubs, these nostalgic photographs capture how children across the region spent their free time between the 1960s and 1980s.
Before screens and smartphones filled our days, entertainment often meant climbing frames, rope swings, community centres, local parks and making your own fun with friends. Whether it was a trip to Blackpool, a summer afternoon at the pool, a creative activity at a youth club or simply exploring the playground, these were the moments that shaped childhood memories.
These atmospheric pictures from our archives are sure to transport you back - perhaps reminding you of the games you played, the places you visited, or even the childhood adventures your own parents remember.
Take a trip down memory lane, enjoy browsing the gallery, and share your favourite memories in the comments. What do you remember most about growing up in the 1960s, 70s and 80s?
Remember Wolverhampton market days? Take a nostalgic trip through our gallery here.
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5. Great Wyrley County Secondary School, 1969
Allison Roberts makes history at Great Wyrley County Secondary School in 1969 as the first fourth-year girl to take on gas welding. Pictured helping to repair steel dining tables, Allison was breaking new ground in the workshop. Do you remember school days when pupils learned practical skills like metalwork, woodwork or cooking — and perhaps surprised everyone by trying something new? | Express & Star archive
6. Adams Hill, Clent, 1974
Horse rides at Adams Hill, Clent, were a favourite attraction during school holidays, and this 1974 scene captures why. As youngsters made the most of half-term, the horses were kept busy carrying excited riders enjoying a day in the countryside. Do you remember family trips like this, when a simple horse ride could be the highlight of the holidays? | Express & Star archive
7. Wall Heath Scout Group, 1975
A clever invention on wheels takes centre stage in this 1970s snapshot, as Stephen Whiley pioneers a “pedal-less pedal car” for the national Scout pedal car rally in Blackpool. Pictured with friends from Wall Heath Scout Group, Stephen’s creation was supported by his father Ron Whiley and the Clancey Brothers of Cradley. Do you remember building, making or inventing things as a child, when imagination and a bit of teamwork could turn an idea into reality? | Express & Star archive
8. Lichfield Adventure Playground, 1975
Lichfield Adventure Playground, 1975, where youngsters turn an old Midland Red bus into a world of adventure. As part of the holiday playscheme, the children enjoyed sandpits and 10-hour days of fun - with one young visitor even bringing along a four-legged friend. A reminder of when imagination, a worn-out bus and a group of friends were all that was needed for a great day out. | Express & Star archive