In Sheffield in 1979, as these retro photos show, bathers were making a splash in Longley Park, Wards Brewery was still booming and crowds gathered for a rock festival in Weston Park. It was also the year of the so-called ‘Boxing Day Massacre’, as Sheffield Wednesday beat Sheffield United 4-0 in the clubs’ first league meeting since 1971.
Sledging in Bingham Park, a horse-drawn carriage at Fargate and a boat trip down the canal for a group of excited youngsters are among the other moments captured in these evocative black and white photos from 1979, which are sure to bring memories flooding back for those of a certain age.
![A rock festival at Sheffield's Weston Park on August 11, 1979.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjZkMTBmODZlLWZiNzMtNDE0MS1iYjkxLTlkOGQzNjU1ZTQ4ZDowZWU3MTg3MS0xNjBjLTRjZTEtODljNy00Y2JlMGVkMzdkNTg=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
5. Weston Park
A rock festival at Sheffield's Weston Park on August 11, 1979. Photo: Sheffield Newspapers Ltd
![Parson Cross Teddy Boys stage a sponsored Rock and Roll in aid of St Cecilia's Church Boiler Fund. Pictured left to right are Roger Peacock, aged 14, Andrew Ledger, 14, Paul Wilson, 15, Cameron Whiteley, 14, 14-year-old Tony Brookes, and, front, Martin Ledger, 16, on Aug 25, 1979.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmNhYzVkY2QzLWI5ZjYtNDA5NS1iNTU2LWRjM2ExNzBmZWNhMzoyOGUwZmQwOC1hZGRiLTRkZTYtYWMzZC1iYzQ2YTEzZjMzNGI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
6. Teddy Boys
Parson Cross Teddy Boys stage a sponsored Rock and Roll in aid of St Cecilia's Church Boiler Fund. Pictured left to right are Roger Peacock, aged 14, Andrew Ledger, 14, Paul Wilson, 15, Cameron Whiteley, 14, 14-year-old Tony Brookes, and, front, Martin Ledger, 16, on Aug 25, 1979. Photo: ©Sheffield Newspapers Ltd
![Fun in the snow at Bingham Park, Sheffield, in January 1979](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjZjODA5NDNhLTZkMTctNGRmMC05YjkzLWFjNDU1ZmYzY2E0OToxZWJkZmE5NS1iOWE3LTQyZjgtOWI2YS1iNTk4NzY4MWUzNTQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
7. Sledging
Fun in the snow at Bingham Park, Sheffield, in January 1979 Photo: ©Sheffield Newspapers Ltd
![People at Weston park, Sheffield, in July 1979.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjZkMjlkMzI1LTNkYjgtNDBiYi1iY2FkLTRmZTFjNmJjN2VhNzplMzg2OGVjZS0yMDQ0LTQ1NDMtODQxMC04ZDcwMTM3OTM0MTc=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
8. Relaxing in the park
People at Weston park, Sheffield, in July 1979. Photo: Heppinstall