In pictures: A glimpse into what life was like growing up in Wolverhampton in the 1960s

Some of the photos from the Express & Star archive show the life and times of Wolverhampton during the 1960s and what it was like to grow up in the city. 

A group of Zambian pupils at the Royal Wolverhampton School enjoyed a white Christmas for the first time ever.

Elsewhere in the city, teenagers were trying their luck at getting a drink at the local pub, or a New Year's kiss on the dancefloor of the Queen's.

Wolverhampton resident Frank Batkin wrote about some of his memories of growing up in Wolverhampton in the 60s. He said: "You may find this hard to believe, but in the '60s you could have a night out for 10 shilling note (that's 50 pence in todays money).

"First there was the bus fare to town from Castlecroft, it was not unusual to see friends also waiting for the bus ready to hit the town. Then after a few minutes gentle strolling, you were at the Civic.

"Now the Civic hall in those days did not have the panache of the Queen's but it had a bar and although it was mostly ballroom dancing it gave you the chance to meet a girl, dance and maybe see her again. As an alternative Saturday night, it was not uncommon to meet friends either at the bus stop or on the bus if they had got on at other stops. Sometimes plans would change and you would end up with a friend in one of the towns pubs, for starters.

"Wolverhampton in the mid to late '60s was really an exciting place to be growing up in. Dance halls, cinemas, pubs, shops and all kinds of places for a teenager to enjoy himself."

Have a look through the gallery showing a glimpse of what it was like to grow up in '60s Wolverhampton. 

New Year's Eve at The Civic Hall

The Civic Hall was the place to be for many Wolverhampton party-goers as it was one of the biggest venues around, boasting a wide dancefloor and bar. Here, people are dressed up smart in the hopes they'll earn themselves a New Year's kiss. The photo was taken on December 31, 1960. 

The Queen's Ballroom

Another popular venue for a night out was The Queen's Ballroom - from ballroom to rock 'n' roll, it was the place where young couples would dance the night away during the swinging sixties. It sadly closed on December 30, 1968. The original caption on the photo read: 'Wolverhampton's only full time ballroom, the Queen's, closed on New Year's Eve and now the town's teenagers must travel elsewhere if they want to go dancing."

"Saturday night at the Queens was a special night. Everybody would get dressed up - the men in their Italian suits and the women in their mini-skirts.