Photos give snapshot of times gone by

The pictures have been taken by professional news photographer Phil Loach and they represent a wide range of events.

But all of them display a distinctive sense of place and purpose which is peculiar to the Black Country.

Shoppers in a blizzard, mock cowboys, fish and chip diners and children making a playground out of a building site are among the subjects which have attracted Phil's attention – along with visits by celebrities and ordinary people appearing in extraordinary situations.

Other pictures reveal dramatic changes that have taken place in the Black Country landscape allied to the huge decline in industry.

Born in Kates Hill, Dudley, in 1949, Phil studied photography at Leicester Ploytechnic and then became a staff cameraman with the Dudley Herald. During the next 45 years he worked for other West Midland newspaper groups, covering everything from sport to politics, tragic disasters to joyful celebrations. He is now a freelance photographer based in Tenbury Wells.

Alongside his press output Phil has always taken personal photographs and this new exhibition concentrates mainly on those images.

He says: "Although I've had thousands of photos published over the years, its really nice to see this collection of favourites that say something personal and meaningful about my time working around the Black Country.

The exhibition, entitled A Time It Was, is being staged at Himley Hall until June 11.

It is open every day except Mondays between 2pm and 5pm.

For more information call Phil on 07392 323379.