What Birmingham looked like in 1984 – 40 years ago

VaselineJuly 27, 2024

0 4 minutes read

What Birmingham looked like in 1984 – 40 years ago

We’re taking a nostalgic trip back to 1984. It sounds crazy to think about, but that was 40 years ago.

A rummage through the archives takes us back to when the Queen was opening the new airport and Billy Graham, American Christian evangelist was in town with Cliff Richard when they were part of the Mission England Crusade at Villa Park.

Charles and Diana went to see Neil Diamond at the NEC Arena with Prince William, who was presented with a giant cuddly ‘Garfield’ by Neil’s son Micha (6). Diana was nearly seven months pregnant with Harry when they visited.

Maglev opened at Birmingham Airport, the revolutionary magnetic levitation system that carried the carriage from the airport to Birmingham International Station. It lasted just 11 years, ending in 1995 with one of the cars sold for £100 and bought by an Oxfordshire farmer. The carriages were manufactured by Metro-Cammell at its factory in Washwood Heath.

Read more: What happened to Birmingham’s old department stores

Freddie Mercury played with Queen at the NEC, also Elton John was on his European Express tour which was the European leg of his 1984 Breaking Hearts tour.

It was not all happy times as the miners’ strike began in 1984 with pickets clashing with police at Daw Mill Colliery near the village of Arley near Nuneaton. Bingley Hall also burned down in Broad Street, which was the predecessor of the ICC.

Pam Shriver won at the Priory Club in Edgbaston and Muhammad Ali was in town and Jasper Carrott played at the Hippodrome, so a busy year at Brum.

1 in 30

Lenny Henry in 1984.

(Image: Mirrorpix)

2 out of 30

Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball present The Cannon and Ball Christmas Spectacular Birmingham Racecourse. December 20, 1984.

(Image: Mirrorpix)

3 out of 30

Pot Black Snooker Players at Pebble Mill Studios, Birmingham, 19 December 1984. Pictured includes commentator David Icke, Steve Davis, Eddie Charlton, Terry Griffiths, commentator Ted Lowe, Cliff Thorburn and Willie Thorne.

(Image: Mirrorpix)

4 out of 30

Pickets and police clash at Daw Mill Colliery, near the village of Arley, near Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England, Tuesday 27 March 1984.

(Image: Mirrorpix)

5 out of 30

Pickets at Lea Hall Colliery, Rugeley, Staffordshire, England, Friday 16 March 1984.

(Image: Mirrorpix)

6 out of 30

The Maglev Monorail at Birmingham International Airport has opened August 16, 1984. The carriages were manufactured by Metro-Cammell at its factory in Washwood Heath.

7 out of 30

Wrestling stars didn’t come much bigger than “Big Daddy” aka Shirley Crabtree Jnr. He broke a chest record of 64 inches. He became a popular regular in wrestling matches shown on ITV’s ‘World of Sport’.
So when 82-year-old Rosina Titmus was seriously injured after being mugged in Birmingham, she asked the police for some self-defence lessons. Who better than “Big Daddy” to show Rosina the ropes. August 6, 1984.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

8 out of 30

Queen perform at the NEC Arena in Birmingham on the band’s The Works tour with frontman Freddie Mercury. August 31, 1984.

(Image: Mirrorpix)

9 out of 30

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh attend the opening of a new terminal at Birmingham International Airport. May 30, 1984.

(Image: Mirrorpix)

10 out of 30

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh attend the opening of a new terminal at Birmingham International Airport. May 30, 1984.

(Image: Mirrorpix)

11 out of 30

Elton John on his European Express Tour, which was the European leg of his Breaking Hearts Tour in 1984. National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham. June 23, 1984.

(Image: Mirrorpix)

12 out of 30

Billy Graham, American Christian evangelist, Mission England Crusade, Villa Park, Birmingham, 6 July 1984. Special guest, singer, Cliff Richard.

(Image: Mirrorpix)

13 out of 30

Billy Graham, American Christian evangelist, Mission England Crusade, Villa Park, Birmingham, 6 July 1984. Special guest, singer, Cliff Richard.

(Image: Mirrorpix)

14 out of 30

Birmingham City football manager Ron Saunders poses next to his Daimler outside the club’s home ground, St Andrew’s. February 10, 1984.

(Image: Mirrorpix)

15 out of 30

Baskerville House and Hall of Remembrance 1984.

16 out of 30

The Prince and Princess of Wales at Neil Diamond’s concert at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham. The princess, almost 7 months pregnant, is photographed chatting with the singer. The cuddly ‘Garfield’ toy will be presented to Prince William by Neil Diamond’s six-year-old son Micha. July 5, 1984.

(Image: Mirrorpix)

17 out of 30

Neil Diamond in concert at the NEC Arena, Birmingham. July 2, 1984.

(Image: Mirrorpix)

18 out of 30

Edgbaston Cup at Edgbaston Priory Club in Birmingham, England, 11-17 June 1984.
Pam Shriver wins the singles final, Sunday, June 17, 1984.

(Image: Mirrorpix)

19 out of 30

Slade (Don Powell, Noddy Holder, Jim Lea and Dave Hill) are filming a new video at Eastnor Castle near Ledbury. January 26, 1984.

(Image: Mirrorpix)

20 out of 30

Smoke is pouring from the fourth floor and roof of the empty Fellow and Darby warehouse in Hampton Street as fire crews using breathing apparatus, hose reels and a turntable ladder tackle the blaze. November 1984.

(Image: Mirrorpix)

21 out of 30

I find it a bit dangerous, let’s cool off at Bartley Green on 28th August 1984.

(Image: B’ham Post and Mail)

22 out of 30

The Fountains in Mell Square, Solihull, 17th October.

(Image: B’ham Post and Mail)

23 out of 30

Smoke darkens the winter scene as fire rages through Bingley Hall, Broad Street, Birmingham.
January 14.

(Image: Bob May)

24 out of 30

Horizon Travel Agents in Birmingham, April 1984.

(Image: SSPL via Getty Images)

25 out of 30

Diana, Princess of Wales, wearing a red Catherine Walker coat and a John Boyd hat on her arrival at Birmingham Airport, England, February 1984.

(Image: Getty Images)

26 out of 30

World boxing champion Muhammad Ali signs autographs for his fans in Birmingham as he arrives in the city for the second time in eight months. May 2, 1984

(Image: Mirrorpix)

27 out of 30

Roger Smith at Smiths Imperial Coaches, Stratford Road, Birmingham. February 14, 1984.

28 out of 30

Harold Musgrove outside the Austin Rover Group headquarters in Longbridge, September 3, 1984.

29 out of 30

England’s Ian Botham celebrates after taking the wicket of West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, caught by Derek Pringle for 71, during the first Test match between England and the West Indies at Edgbaston, Birmingham on June 15, 1984. India of West won by an innings and 180 runs.

(Image: Bob Thomas Sports Photography via Getty Images)

30 out of 30

Jasper Carrott, comedian, actor, television presenter and personality, pictured at the Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre, where he currently performs his stand up routine, 3 August 1984.

(Image: Mirrorpix)

VaselineJuly 27, 2024

0 4 minutes read

Vaseline

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