These photographs from the Shropshire Star archives capture life across the county in 1978, from royal visits and famous faces to community events, local industry and historic moments.
Prince Charles flew into Shrewsbury to open the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, while Richard Burton and Billy Connolly brought film-set excitement to Ellesmere College. Elsewhere, villagers recreated the Silver Jubilee in Llanfair Waterdine, young riders competed at Wistanswick gymkhana, and miners fought to save Granville Colliery.
What are your memories of 1978? Did you see Prince Charles arrive by helicopter, work on Stanmore Industrial Estate, or take part in any of the events featured? We'd love to hear your memories, so share your stories in the comments below.
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41. A royal welcome to perform the official opening
Prince Charles strolls alongside the Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, Mr John Dugdale, after stepping off a helicopter on November 17, 1978. The Prince of Wales was visiting to perform the official opening of the new Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. Were you amongst the crowd or hospital staff who saw Prince Charles open the site in late 1978? | Shropshire Star archive
42. Adding a personal touch to a historic Newport pub
Landlord Alan Tonge and his wife Cella debate artwork choices over the mantelpiece at the King's Head in Chetwynd End, Newport, in November 1978. Having taken over the licence a year earlier in late 1977, the couple undertook an extensive refurbishment to renovate and redecorate the premises. Featured in a special Shropshire Star homes feature, Cella naturally championed her own original landscape painting to take pride of place in their newly transformed living quarters. Do you remember drinking or socialising at the King's Head in Newport during the late 1970s? | Shropshire Star archive
43. A curious glimpse into an old town corner
Captured on Valentine's Day in 1978, this street scene shows the junction where Phoenix Bank meets the bottom of the High Street in Market Drayton. Standing prominently at the centre is a quaint, whitewashed cottage flanked by brick boundary walls, with the familiar timber-framed Stag’s Head Inn visible further up on the far right. Though the original news story behind the photo has been lost to time, the image offers a wonderful freeze-frame of the town's historic layout before later developments took shape. Do you remember this old cottage site at the bottom of the High Street, or know what became of the building? | Shropshire Star archive
44. Cool, calm, and collected for the first aid test
Dressed in their official berets and uniforms, members of the Bridgnorth Red Cross team put their care skills into action during the annual Salop Red Cross inspection on April 23, 1978. Pictured gathering round to assist a fellow volunteer are Mrs Patricia Gill, Mrs Yvonne Evans, Mrs Helen Franks, and Mrs Joyce Davies. The dedicated team traveled to Shrewsbury for the assessment. Do you remember any of these dedicated Red Cross volunteers serving the Bridgnorth community back in the late 1970s? | Shropshire Star archive