Journey Through Time: 34 Nostalgic Photos Reveal How Midlands Careers Have Shaped Communities

Tomorrow marks the start of National Careers Week, a UK-wide celebration of careers guidance and a chance to inspire young people as they explore their future paths.

In this gallery, we look back at the jobs and careers that have shaped lives across the region over the years—from first steps after school or college right through to retirement.

From the military and construction to engineering and sales, take a step back in time and see how work has looked through the decades.

Learning the basics on machine tools in the early 1970s at Dowty Aerospace, Wolverhampton, part of a long tradition of skilled craftsmen shaping engineering and aviation.

Mrs Annie Bason, station master at Eaton Station near Lydbury North, handing a letter to driver George Hotchkiss, with guard Tom Cadwallader at the rear of the train. Photo taken on February 24, 1932.

1984: Four lucky youngsters in line for a meeting with Princess Diana when she visits the Multi-Skills Youth Training Scheme in Castle Gates, Shrewsbury.

Laying the foundations at Cound Moor Village Hall on 18 December 1985 are, from left, Mike Davies, John Green and Hugh Richards, all of Shrewsbury.

Just passed our tests. An earlier picture of Alan Scriven (centre), with Ken Parker (left), and Dave Fryer, in Walsall, December 1986.

On the Wackies. Alan Scriven, who had a long career in the bus industry including as a driver, recalls the period known as the Wacky Races.

July 4, 1967. The foundry industry's training centres are concentrated in the Midlands. This picture is from the craft training centre at West Bromwich.

April 29, 1966: carrying out the traditional “service” potato planting on a Bicton farm.

October 27, 1948: Shrewsbury postman William Edward Mullock making the 4 o’clock collection from a hexagonal pillar box in The Square.