Britain’s coal miners were on strike, plans for the M54 sparked protests, and communities across Shropshire were adapting to a changing world in 1972.
In this collection of archive pictures, we look back at a year of big events and everyday moments - from pupils rolling up their sleeves to clean their school swimming pool in Dawley, to the opening of new homes, a new police station and the first steps towards Telford’s developing town centre.
There were also plenty of reminders of daily life in the county, including a ‘paraffin perm’ in Kinnerley during a power cut, miners returning to work at Granville Colliery, and youngsters enjoying unusual opportunities at school and in their communities.
These photographs from the Shropshire Star archive capture the people, places and stories that shaped Shropshire in 1972. Do you remember any of these scenes, or can you spot someone you know? Tell us in the comments.
Did you see our gallery looking back at the 1990s? Take a look here.
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13. Castlefields, Shrewsbury, 1972
New Park Terrace in Shrewsbury's Castlefields district pictured in January 1972, when a major revitalisation programme was under way. The row of houses had been earmarked for clearance as part of plans to reshape the area. Do you remember these homes, or the changes that transformed Castlefields in the years that followed? | Shropshire Star archive
14. Telford Development Corporation, 1972
A milestone in Telford’s development came in March 1972, when Telford Development Corporation chairman John Dugdale poured the first skip of concrete to mark the start of the first phase of the new town centre. Were you there to witness this moment, or do you remember watching the town centre take shape? | Shropshire Star archive
15. Bridgnorth Police Station, 1972
A glimpse inside the newly opened Bridgnorth Police Station in July 1972, as operations assistant Miss Helen Wainwright is watched by Deputy Chief Constable E A Abbott, Lt-Col A Heywood-Lonsdale and Chief Inspector Fred Lloyd during the official opening. Do you remember when the station first opened, or recognise anyone pictured? | Shropshire Star archive
16. Oswestry, 1972
A power cut led to an unusual solution at an Oswestry hair salon in February 1972, when Mrs Irene Brayne found herself getting a "paraffin perm" over a stove instead of under an electric hair dryer. Thankfully, the electricity was soon restored! Do you remember the power cuts of the early 1970s, or have you ever had a trip to the hairdresser that didn't quite go to plan? | Shropshire Star