It was the year Shropshire officially replaced Salop as the county’s name, thanks to the efforts of a determined councillor. Ken Dodd tucked into a jam butty in Telford, and Lady Diana Spencer’s visit to Ludlow races marked the first time she and Prince Charles appeared together in public. You can read Toby Neal’s piece, 'Day at the races when royal couple went public', here.
It also seems to have been a year marked by a curious fascination with large feet. We hope you enjoy this selection of photographs from the Shropshire Star archive, presented in no particular order.
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Colonel John Kenyon, the county councillor who led a campaign to have Shropshire as the official name of the county rather than Salop. He is pictured with a Shropshire sign on March 31, 1980 - after winning his campaign, the county was officially Shropshire from April 1, 1980.
The Red Arrows at RAF Cosford Air Show. Dated September 22, 1980. The aircraft are Hawk trainers.
Wylie and Holland motorcycle dealers in Newport, July 28, 1980. This was used with an advertising feature on July 29, 1980, which began: 'Wyle and Holland, the Market Drayton motorcycle agents, have only been operating for five years. In that time Graham Wylie and Cliff Holland have seen their business grow from a small shed to a large showroom and workshop. Now the successful partnership has taken another big step and taken over Market Drayton's oldest motorcycle firm, Abrahams, which commenced 45 years ago. The deal includes Abraham's successful Newport branch...'
April 23, 1980 - 'Richards Castle WI held a St George's Day luncheon at the Boot Inn, Orleton, near Ludlow, yesterday. The women enjoy the toast in the garden.'
The royal visit of Prince Bernhard of The Netherlands to Bridgnorth on April 19, 1980. He was attending a remembrance service for 53 Dutch airmen who trained at RAF Bridgnorth at the end of the war and later died.
'Beware here comes Bigfoot! Wearing the big boots, Jill Arch receives a lift from fellow team members Gordon and Teresa Hogg. The threesome were members of the Bridgnorth team that took part in the It's A Knockout competition at Bridgnorth Carnival yesterday.' The picture was taken on May 25, 1980.
October 11, 1980. The caption read: 'Following in the champion's wheelmarks... Mick Jeggo, a partner in Davies and Jeggo Motors, of Newport, shows that he has not forgotten how to turn a pedal. He is being paced here by British professional road race champion Keith Lambert, three-times winner of the race that Mick's firm sponsors at Newport each year. They finished fifth in a 13-mile gentleman's time-trail in which top stars joined with sponsors and race organisers to form two-man teams. It followed the Professional Cycling Association's annual meeting at South Mimms in Hertfordshire. Jeggo has been cycle racing since he was 16 and has been in the same Wrekinsport Van Beek team as his 18-year-old son Nick this season.' Picture: John Coles
The eagle from Copthorne barracks, Shrewsbury, which was taken by officers of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry from Minden Barracks, Cologne, in 1925 as a souvenir. This picture was taken on on May 29, 1980, when the eagle was re-erected at the barracks in Shrewsbury. The eagle had been removed from Copthorne Barracks in April 1963, and put in a scrap yard. It subsequently disappeared but was tracked down and re-erected. This picture shows John O'Hare (top) and Trevor Kirkham, working on the eagle. It eagle now sits in the grounds of Shrewsbury Castle.
March 26, 1980. The caption reads: 'Members of the 1st Gobowen brownie pack have spent three months collecting their spare coppers in empty drinks cans, and last night the 23 filled cans were presented to the Vicar of Gobowen, the Rev John Allen, for the fund to rebuild the parish church, gutted by fire in December.'
March 10, 1980. The story began: 'The athletics track and facilities at Park Hall Camp, near Oswestry, will be reopened this season. Initially the facilities will be used by schools in the Oswestry area but it is hoped that they will also be open to the public. There are plans to form an athletics club and a jogging club based on the camp. The track has not been used since the army moved out of Park Hall five years ago.' The picture shows Mark Smith (left) and Peter Hodnett at work preparing the ground for the athletics season.'
August 13, 1980. 'A project by members of the Hadley Coffee Bar started last week - a giant cricket mural on the outside wall of the bar. Six members have been at work and hope that the mural will be complete by the end of the week. Completion was scheduled earlier, but rain stopped play on several occasions over the past few days.'
'High-flying skateboarder Mervyn Thomas (14), of Springfield, Shrewsbury, gives an impromptu demonstration of his skills at Shrewsbury Skateboard Park', on August 14, 1980.
April 9, 1980: 'Author of many favourite children's books based upon a steam engine called Thomas, the Rev Wilbert Vere Awdry, officially unveiled the nameplate of Telford's own Thomas. The christening ceremony took place at the Town Park where the steam tram will run along a new stretch of track.' In the story it was made clear it was named after Thomas Telford, not Awdry's Thomas. 'The Telford tramway system is, at present, only a short section of track. But it is to be further developed to connect the town centre with a new exhibition area and the 450-acre park,' it said.
Tony Shryane, who was producer of BBC Radio programme The Archers for 28 years, pictured on a visit to Minsterley in June 1980. The accompanying story saying 'Tony, now a producer of light entertainment, visited Shropshire this week to eavesdrop on Minsterley Village Show Committee finalising its arrangements for its 105th annual summer show...Mr Shryane's aim is to produce an amusing half hour programme taking a light hearted look at the work that goes into organising a typical village agricultural show...' From left are: Mrs Sue Embrey, show secretary; Mr Tudor Bebb, chairman; Lord Bridgeman, president; Tony Shryane; Mr Martin Dyas, treasurer; Miss Joanna Skinner, producer's assistant.
A picture taken at Quest 80 at Stafford Park, on September 2, 1980 - 'The first trolley bus to be built in Britain for 27 years has been assembled in Telford and is expected to open up a large market overseas, and possibly at home as well. Quest 80 on Stafford Park is the main contractor for the prototype trolley bus...'
Ken Dodd in Dawley in 1980. The caption read: 'A giant jam butty for comedian Ken Dodd at a reception yesterday in Dawley Town Hall to commemorate the opening of Dawley's new traffic-free area. The jam butty was served up by fellow scouse, Telford Development Corporation's caterer David Alexander, of Wellington.'
Granville Colliery, near St Georges, on January 16, 1980. The colliery had closed in 1979.
The old army married quarters at Park Hall camp, Oswestry, sold for private housing' is the caption pasted on the back of this print in the Shropshire Star picture archive. It was taken on September 15, 1980.
February 14, 1980 - 'Who needs skis when you've got size 12 feet? This has been the problem for 15-year-old Alistair Davies from Shrewsbury who is one of the party of 30 pupils at Priory Boys School, Shrewsbury, who are off to Italy tonight on a skiing holiday. He couldn't get a pair of ski-boots large enough, but today teacher at the school, Mr Granville Stacey, turned up with these giant boots.'
Bayleys Garden Centre, Shrewsbury, on March 14, 1980.
February 14, 1980. Telford Town Centre under construction.
Ludlow Racecourse, October 24, 1980. Lady Diana Spencer attended the races to watch Prince Charles compete on his horse Allibar. Next to Lady Diana is Camilla Parker Bowles. The man is unidentified but believed to be Nick Gaselee, the trainer of Allibar. Picture: Malcolm Rouse.
Ludlow Racecourse, October 24, 1980. Lady Diana Spencer watched as Prince Charles took part in the Clun Amateur Riders Handicap Chase on his horse Allibar. He came second. Picture: Malcolm Rouse.
Vincent Greenhous car dealership in Ketley, Telford, around 1980. Picture: Roger Tranter.
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