Tania Taylor

Readers discuss an alleged double charge and unresolved refund after a bus journey into Dudley, criticizing the treatment of a passenger accused of fare evasion. Other letters raise concerns about personal safety, immigration and national conditions, celebrate a lifelong love of Wales, and urge that Birmingham’s historic Crown pub be restored without becoming a Black Sabbath-themed attraction. The page also features an archive photograph of crowds celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 coronation in Dudley.

A community afternoon tea organized by Seisdon Primary Care Network, Perton GP surgeries and The Church at Perton raised £616 for Breast Cancer Now. Residents donated money and cakes, local businesses provided tombola prizes, and MP Mike Wood attended. The organizers thanked the community for supporting the event and helping raise awareness of breast cancer.

A nostalgic photographic gallery revisits life in the Black Country and Staffordshire in 1981. The visible entries feature Walsall’s council play bus scheme, the expansion of Agri-Electrics’ Tipton showroom, Dudley Market’s planned summer fair, and a football match celebrating Dudley Town’s new floodlights with Wolves figures Billy Wright and Derek Parkin.

Readers criticize police for failing to tackle widespread e-scooter misuse, including dangerous riding on roads and pavements, and warn that tolerance of low-level offences could encourage more serious crime. Other letters attack Ed Miliband and Andy Burnham, while another condemns Argentina’s conduct during the World Cup and cites Falkland Islanders’ overwhelming support for remaining British. The feature also includes a 1909 postcard showing a seaside visit to Llandudno.

Readers’ letters call for Dudley town centre to be cleaned up and revitalized, criticizing empty shops, the delayed tram, an over-budget bus station, waste collection, public safety and the decline of the market. Another correspondent recalls working at BSR Wollaston during the hot summer of 1976. Political letters argue that Andy Burnham’s socialist policies would require higher taxes and risk repeating 1970s failures, while another demands a general election if Burnham becomes prime minister without direct electoral approval. The feature also recalls a 1961 Wolverhampton Wanderers match at Blackpool that was abandoned after nine minutes because of dense fog.

Thirty-one archive photographs document everyday life in the Black Country and Staffordshire in 1972, including miners’ strikes, power cuts, industrial uncertainty, cinema visits, church traditions, football and community celebrations. The gallery highlights local figures and landmarks, including Slade’s glam-rock performances in Wolverhampton and Gordon Banks meeting young fans in Cannock, while inviting readers to share memories.

Archive photographs highlight everyday life in 1971 across the Black Country and Staffordshire, showing markets, factories, workplaces, local landmarks and community scenes. Images capture industrial work, public spaces, and leisure activities, offering a look at how the region appeared over 50 years ago and inviting readers to reflect on their own memories of the era.

A collection of archival photographs highlights workplaces, community life and familiar locations in Walsall during the 1980s, capturing factory scenes, local businesses and moments of collective action and fundraising across the borough.

Archive photographs from 1964 depict everyday life, industry, transport and familiar locations across Wolverhampton during a period of transition, highlighting busy streets, local factories and changing urban landscapes while inviting readers to reflect on past memories.

A collection of archive photographs from 1978 showcases everyday life, industry, community events and notable locations across Dudley and the Black Country. Images capture local workers, council activities, historic buildings, industrial machinery and award‑winning housing, offering a nostalgic look at the area's heritage nearly five decades on.

Over 30 pupils from the Black Country attended the five‑day Eton Connect Summer School, joining nearly 60 state‑school students selected nationwide. The programme offered academic enrichment, skills development and residential life experiences at Eton College. The initiative forms part of the broader Eton Star Dudley partnership, which aims to establish a new sixth‑form college to support talented young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Staff highlighted the students’ increased confidence, ambition and enthusiasm following the experience.

A nostalgic photo gallery highlighting childhood life across the Black Country and Staffordshire from the 1960s to the 1980s, featuring scenes of playgrounds, family outings, youth activities and everyday moments that shaped local memories.

A reader condemns major retailers for selling e‑scooters that are widely used illegally and linked to injuries, urging them to halt sales due to safety and legal concerns. Another contributor warns that government suppression of climate‑risk reports prevents the public from understanding threats to food security, national stability, and public safety, arguing that extreme weather signals an urgent crisis requiring transparent communication and action.

Archive photographs from the 1960s and 1970s highlight daily life and community spirit at Wolverhampton’s markets, showing traders, changing market sites and familiar stalls as the city evolved.

Archival photographs highlight changing high streets, shifts in housing policy, industrial uncertainty and everyday life in Wolverhampton and the Black Country during the 1980s, capturing the transition from high-rise living, the character of local shops and the impact of economic pressures on communities.

Residents raise concerns about overgrown grass and safety hazards in Wolverhampton, difficulties accessing public toilets in Kidderminster, and the challenges facing England’s football manager due to the limited pool of English players in the Premier League. An accompanying archival photo highlights former West Bromwich Albion players taking part in a 1981 charity cricket match.

Correspondents raise concerns over the unexplained closure of Sneyd High School and call for transparency from local leadership before new spending decisions are made. Additional letters offer humorous personal anecdotes, clarify classical references in Enoch Powell’s speeches, and praise a Wolverhampton charity event for its inclusive community spirit.

Readers highlight frustrations over bus fare evasion, debate Labour’s political leadership prospects and Andy Burnham’s potential national role, call for improved public transport investment in Shropshire, and contrast Peter Murrell’s embezzlement conviction with wrongful Post Office prosecutions linked to the Horizon system.

Photographs depict industrial life, housing redevelopment and community scenes across the Black Country and Staffordshire during the 1970s, highlighting workplace movements, manufacturing heritage and urban transition shaping the region’s identity.