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Midlands memories: 16 nostalgic images of making the most of rainy weather

"Rain, rain, go away…" but we carried on anyway!

By Tania Taylor
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We’ve certainly had our fair share of wet weather in recent weeks, so we’re taking a look back through the Star's archives to days when a little—or even a lot—of rain never stopped the fun.

From the 'disastrously wet' Shrewsbury Flower Show of 1970 that almost didn’t happen, the Staffordshire Regiment band carrying on with their concert despite the showers, youngsters playing in a flooded street, and Lenny Henry bringing sunshine to a damp Staffordshire village.

We hope you enjoy this gallery and are reminded of just how resilient we can be...

July 1987: 'Ashley Festival procession was held through the village, despite pouring rain on Saturday. The only people dressed for the weather were members of Ashley and Loggerheads Ladies' Guild, whose float had a lifeboat theme.' So says the caption'. The accompanying story began: 'Rain badly hit the start of a nine-day festival at Ashley, near Market Drayton, on Saturday. An evening concert in the marquee and a tug of war contest were postponed as the day-long deluge turned the festival field into a quagmire...'
July 1987: 'Ashley Festival procession was held through the village, despite pouring rain on Saturday. The only people dressed for the weather were members of Ashley and Loggerheads Ladies' Guild, whose float had a lifeboat theme.' So says the caption'. The accompanying story began: 'Rain badly hit the start of a nine-day festival at Ashley, near Market Drayton, on Saturday. An evening concert in the marquee and a tug of war contest were postponed as the day-long deluge turned the festival field into a quagmire...'
June 26, 1967: The caption reads: 'Rain did not dampen the spirits of the young men who took part in a piano smashing competition at Claverley on Saturday. Admirers of these faithful old uprights had to grin and bear it as one team after another made short work of the craftsman-built instruments. Here the team from the National Foundry College show how it is done. The event was part of a fete towards raising £1,000 for the rebuilding of the village hall... the present village hall was built of timber in the 1920s and a permanent replacement would cost nearly £10,000.'
June 26, 1967: The caption reads: 'Rain did not dampen the spirits of the young men who took part in a piano smashing competition at Claverley on Saturday. Admirers of these faithful old uprights had to grin and bear it as one team after another made short work of the craftsman-built instruments. Here the team from the National Foundry College show how it is done. The event was part of a fete towards raising £1,000 for the rebuilding of the village hall... the present village hall was built of timber in the 1920s and a permanent replacement would cost nearly £10,000.'
'Youngsters play in the floods in Guy Avenue, Wolverhampton, after a thunderstorm on August 14, 1984.'
'Youngsters play in the floods in Guy Avenue, Wolverhampton, after a thunderstorm on August 14, 1984.'
August 1966: 'Keeping the rain off the joy stick is Mr R S Voice of the Tiger Club who took part in the Goodyear Air Trophy Race at Bobbington.'
August 1966: 'Keeping the rain off the joy stick is Mr R S Voice of the Tiger Club who took part in the Goodyear Air Trophy Race at Bobbington.'
A major flood prevention scheme on the River Sow had been completed by Severn Trent Water Authority just a few months before heavy rain, meaning that only certain areas such as Victoria Park in Stafford had been flooded. The photograph shows Peter Owen trying to get through the floods on his bicycle. December 1979.
A major flood prevention scheme on the River Sow had been completed by Severn Trent Water Authority just a few months before heavy rain, meaning that only certain areas such as Victoria Park in Stafford had been flooded. The photograph shows Peter Owen trying to get through the floods on his bicycle. December 1979.
'Mark Bell crossing the finish line of Newport's National Road Race Championship final in 1986.’ Newport’s cobbles were made treacherous by drizzling rain and several riders crashed, ending the hopes of several of the top men.
'Mark Bell crossing the finish line of Newport's National Road Race Championship final in 1986.’ Newport’s cobbles were made treacherous by drizzling rain and several riders crashed, ending the hopes of several of the top men.
The Staffordshire Regiment Band put on a concert despite the rai, in Levetts Square, Lichfield, as part of a jubilee appeal by the men at Whittington Barracks, August 1977.
The Staffordshire Regiment Band put on a concert despite the rain, in Levetts Square, Lichfield, as part of a jubilee appeal by the men at Whittington Barracks, August 1977.
Tara Cain and her mother, Wendy, under an umbrella in Dudley. Undated.
Tara Cain and her mother, Wendy, under an umbrella in Dudley. Undated.
March 1982: 'Dudley-born comedian Lenny Henry brought some instant sunshine to the rain-soaked village of Kinver. Lenny, who arrived in Kinver to open a new travel agency, laughed and joked with more than 50 children who had waited to see him. The 22-year-old star of Central's OTT praised villagers for their efforts to make Kinver an official holiday resort. 'I used to come climbing in Kinver when I was younger,' he said. 'I love the place. It deserves to have proper recognition.'
March 1982: 'Dudley-born comedian Lenny Henry brought some instant sunshine to the rain-soaked village of Kinver. Lenny, who arrived in Kinver to open a new travel agency, laughed and joked with more than 50 children who had waited to see him. The 22-year-old star of Central's OTT praised villagers for their efforts to make Kinver an official holiday resort. 'I used to come climbing in Kinver when I was younger,' he said. 'I love the place. It deserves to have proper recognition.'
'The South Shropshire Morris Dancers, who gave displays throughout the district on Saturday, brave the showers at Northgate, Bridgnorth.' The picture was taken on June 2, 1979.
'The South Shropshire Morris Dancers, who gave displays throughout the district on Saturday, brave the showers at Northgate, Bridgnorth.' The picture was taken on June 2, 1979.
'The "up, up and away" theme of Dudley Show was grounded by bad weather today after weeks of summer sunshine - but organisers remained optimistic...' August 1984.
'The "up, up and away" theme of Dudley Show was grounded by bad weather today after weeks of summer sunshine - but organisers remained optimistic...' The photograph shows Ken Wilson polishing his 1966 E-Type Jaguar, with Alan Jones holding an umbrella, and Frank Lait (left) and Joe Flavell alongside, in August 1984.
Wolverhampton Floral Fete, September 1951. Workers trying to combat the mud caused by rain by covering the ground with sand.
Wolverhampton Floral Fete, September 1951. Workers trying to combat the mud caused by rain by covering the ground with sand.
Wedges Mills Carnival, 1977. Waiting for the rain to stop is Phillip Reaney, dressed as a miner, carrying an umbrella in the rain.
Wedges Mills Carnival, 1977. Waiting for the rain to stop is Phillip Reaney, dressed as a miner, carrying an umbrella in the rain.
'Umbrella time for these Salop visitors to the Shrewsbury Flower Show', August 20, 1970. The 1970 Shrewsbury Flower Show organised by Shropshire Horticultural Society was disastrously wet, threatening the future of the entire event. On the first day there was a wall of rain. It was held on August 19 and 20 and suffered two inches of rain, the worst weather to hit it for 50 years.
'Umbrella time for these Salop visitors to the Shrewsbury Flower Show', August 20, 1970. The 1970 Shrewsbury Flower Show organised by Shropshire Horticultural Society was disastrously wet, threatening the future of the entire event. On the first day there was a wall of rain. It was held on August 19 and 20 and suffered two inches of rain, the worst weather to hit it for 50 years.
'Waiting for a boat train? Porter Terry Nightingale tries his luck with a hook and line Walsall's flooded railway station in May 1969.'
'Waiting for a boat train? Porter Terry Nightingale tries his luck with a hook and line Walsall's flooded railway station in May 1969.'
A trail set out in a booklet published by Brierley Hill Library had to be abandoned due to rain in August 1980. The photograph shows (from left) Archie Williams, Katherine Atkins, Stephen Masters, Peter Bullock, Alec Pearson, Oliver Masters and Jackie Jones.
A trail set out in a booklet published by Brierley Hill Library had to be abandoned due to rain in August 1980. The photograph shows (from left) Archie Williams, Katherine Atkins, Stephen Masters, Peter Bullock, Alec Pearson, Oliver Masters and Jackie Jones.

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