Step back to 1971: 19 pictures of Staffordshire and the Black Country - see how many you remember
Join us as we take a trip back to 1971 with 19 unforgettable photos from the Express & Star archives, showcasing the region as you may remember - or have maybe forgotten!
These photos capture the people and moments that made the headlines across our pages - from the mystery of a disappearing-and-reappearing traffic island to the charm of ‘Bert the Boatman’. Let’s take a look…
May 22, 1971. The floral display in the grounds of Dudley Guest Hospital, designed by the hospital group gardening superintendent, Mr Alan Hanslip, which has been made to mark the centenary of the hospital. The display, which contains about 10,000 plants, took six men a day and a half to lay out. The display depicts the hospital's opening in 1871 and its growth to the present day.
February 22, 1971. No decision had yet been made on the future of the old Queen's ballroom in Wolverhampton, which was closed just over two years ago. Rank sold the property, which used to be a cinema, to Marks & Spencer Ltd. The firm was expected to use it as a warehouse, but later decided it would not be of practical use. Marks & Spencer have disposed of it to Hortons Estates Ltd, Colmore Row, Birmingham, which has extensive property interests in Wolverhampton. A spokesman for the company said: 'We intend to let or develop the property in the best possible way as soon as possible.'
January 28, 1971 - 'Wolverhampton is a toytown. Look at its new High Level station and its 'pathetic' little car park...' read the caption.
February 4, 1971. Staffordshire County Council workmen arrived in the centre of Brewood, and quietly and efficiently removed a traffic island. The island (pictured) - which some residents considered a pleasant landmark - has disappeared from under the villagers' noses. But now, almost as mysteriously as it vanished, the island has suddenly re-appeared.' It has changed to a pear-shape, and is about six feet away from its original position,' said Mr Bill Burns, landlord of The Lion public house.'
Lichfield Arts Centre, based at the old Post Office, in March 1971
A three-year plan to bring Wolverhampton Art Gallery "into the 20th century" was making progress, with the installation of a new storage unit in the basement to house the collection of paintings, water colours and drawings. The photograph shows John Davies hanging pictures in the new unit on March 9, 1971.
Bilston and District Senior Citizens' Centre. The new Centre was officially opened by Councillor Denis Turner on March 24, 1971.
Cannock was a town going through rapid change at the time that this photograph was taken from the tower of St Luke's Church in May, 1971. The open area in the foreground was being cleared for the new ring road, while in the middle distance the Rumer Hill prefab estate was being converted into permanent homes. The old pit shale mounds running along the skyline were set to be razed, one by one.
Let us know in the comments below if you spot anyone you know.
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