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It is easy to dismiss the decade as a period of great liberalism, inspired by an imagined new-found freedom, that would create so much havoc in the years to come; a decade that inspired such phrases as "If you can remember it, you weren't part of it", or John Lennon's "Nothing happened in the sixties except that we all dressed up" - a time when Vivian Stanshall and the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band coined "Cool Britannia", which is still with us today. However, it was far more that just that. Youth seemed to come into its own for the first time, with hair longer, skirts shorter and the Beatles changing popular music forever. In Birmingham it was an era of re-building (although not to everyone's liking) but, despite the impression that everything was changing, there was still a great deal of traditionalism around. All of this, and more is reflected in our book - along with lots and lots of those street scenes that we know mean so much to you.

It's amazing how well people respond to a challenge! After "Birmingham in the Fifties" and Birmingham in the Sixties" came out, several people wrote to us to say how much they enjoyed the books but that they had even better material themselves. Bristling with ill-placed indignation, yours truly retorted, "OK - prove it!" In reply, dust clouds rose in attics as tea-chest were opened for the first time in donkey's years, relatives were pestered, photographs prised out of albums and so on as the whole enterprise became a quest for that elusive better picture/leaflet/cutting - whatever.

This book along with "Birmingham in the Fifties Vol. 2", is the result of that partnership between you and us. I hope you think it was worthwhile - we do!

Was it only yesterday? Well, first of all you have to convince yourself that the seventies actually started over thirty years ago. Then you have to work out exactly what you were doing at the time. Personally, I have a big hole in my Birmingham-seventies-consciousness as Jo and I started the decade by getting married in Weston-Super-Mare and then, as a professional comedian, I appeared in long summer seasons in Blackpool, Weston, Bexhill-on-Sea and Shanklin, pantomimes, cabaret, television, radio and lengthy theatre tours all over this sceptred isle. As far as our city is concerned a lot of the rebuilding had been done but there was plenty still to do. Life was fast and constantly changing so let's rewind to the seventies to see if you can find the YOU that used to be.

Over the years our most popular books have been "Memories of Birmingham" and "Birmingham Remembered" so we felt it was about time that we produced another general view of the city. No particular theme, other than a proud over-the-shoulder look at the way things were: the bustling, atmospheric Bull Ring; Lewis's - where almost anything could be bought; trams, trolleybuses; maybe even a younger version of YOU?

Once again, magnifying glasses out, taste buds at the ready, turn the page back to yesterday and prepare to savour our city as it was.

The accumulation of material for the various section of this book has involved a labour of love on the part of individuals and organisations who have searched through draws, cupboards, files and archives to unearth often long-hidden nostalgic gems. Such an important event as the celebration of Birmingham's centenary meant that the sheer volume of relative material caused Alton and his small team agonies of selection, graduation, segregation, rejection and then more selection before arriving at this well-balanced end product.

You responded so enthusiastically to "Birmingham Shops", that it seemed quite logical to extend the theme and show people in all types of work. Birmingham has been called "The City of 1001 trades" so we've included as many as possible - interesting vocations, professions, callings - anything that means busy people earning a living. As usual you'll also find those entertaining old ads but equally I have to say that I enjoy the inventive slogans "Come to Walkers first - it pays in the end" to "Roofers get felt at Moore's Roofing Supplies" to possibly the most famous Birmingham slogan of all, Sword & Robb's...no I wont quote it, just see if you can remember.

This book covers Birmingham's most dramatic and dangerous years. Over half-a-century ago, our fellow-citizens faced up to an enemy, on their own doorsteps, with that indomitable British spirit, which seems to be a mixture of "Do your worst - see if I care" and "A funny thing happened on the way to the air-raid shelter". We wish to pay tribute to that wartime spirit without in any way glorifying war itself, always remembering that, for a great many people, Birmingham was the Front Line.

To avoid repetition, we have not included much in the way of facts and figures as so much detail was given in our previous books, Birmingham at War Vols 1 and 2. This time, in date order (or as near as memory will allow) we are presenting a scrapbook of events, with lots and lots of local happenings and, here and there, an impression of how the war was developing on the wider scale.

Like you, I often thought there ought to be, in book form, a pictorial account of events in Second World War Birmingham. I'd scoured the library shelves until my brown borrower's tickets fell into disuse and were replaced by a variation on the credit card theme, and all in vain. So, in the hope that this would please both you and me, my friends Gordon Stretch and Clive Hardy, my wife Jo, and yours truly, produced the labour of love that is this book.

As I visited homes, in search of that elusive photograph, people poured out not only the content of their attics, but also their hearts too, and for that I'll be eternally greatful.

This is a book for you to dip into. Use a magnifying glass on some of the pictures and you'll be amazed at the treasure that is yours for the finding. Above all, of course, say a silent "Thank You" to the people of the forties who made it possible for us to enjoy the present and the future.

After we had completed "Birmingham At War Vol 1" many other good photographs surfaced. People wrote, telephoned and even travelled, to let me know that they had interesting material. Clive, Gordon, Jo and I then set about, a busy bunch of moles, unearthing more gems until the collection gradually took on a life of its own. A great many of these items have never seen daylight before because they were either protected by the Official Secrets Act until recently, or, in some instances, due to strict censorship laws of the time, quite frankly should never have been taken at all!

As far as the text is concerned we have tried to avoid going over the same ground as the first book, We've also discovered some more startling dramatic examples of bomb damage, the military's involvement and war production, and our new categories include animals at war, factory concerts, war brides, Brummies abroad etc.

Birmingham at Play” is just about FUN! Whether it’s people being entertained or entertaining themselves, it’s all here - lots of street parties, sporting activities, famous stars, all dancing, all singing - just enjoy this book!

When I was a lad there was a gadget, a bit like a periscope, that enabled you to look over the heads in a crowd. Try and imagine that you're using one to see behind you and you'll notice that the 70's are fading further and further into the distance. Some people refer to the period as "only yesterday" but in reality the decade finished over a quarter of a century ago. So, what have we got for you this time? Scores of streets to stroll along, lots of window-shopping to do and crowds full of faces to look through (and hopefully identify some of them). In total, over 350 Items - if you've got the time and energy, just count them. Incidentally, the Queen seemed almost to be addicted to our city, she visited us so often and - as you'll see - how we turned out to greet her on every occasion!