WELCOME to Bygones and strap yourselves in for another trip through the County Times time machine.

This week we venture as far back as 1980 to share some images of what was going on in Powys

Of course 1980 was a hugely divided time in the history of the country with the first steelworks strike since 1926 while the British Olympic Association votes to defy the government by sending athletes to the Olympic Games to be held in Moscow.

Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister and in 1980 she handed the keys over to the 12,000th council tenant to buy their home under the right to buy scheme.

In the same year she made her "The lady's not for turning" speech to the Conservative Party conference after party MP's warned her economic policy was responsible for the recession and rising unemployment which crippled Britain at the start of the decade.

Meanwhile, Ford launched one of the most important new cars of the year – the mark 3 Escort, spelling the end of the traditional rear-wheel drive saloon in favour of the front-wheel drive hatchback.

The County Times goes back in time to share what was going on in Powys that year.

County Times: Oswestry v Newtown 1980.

Oswestry Rugby Club take on Newtown in 1980.

County Times: Welshpool School Carnival Fancy Dress 1980

Welshpool School Carnival Fancy Dress in 1980.

County Times: Welshpool School Carnival Fancy Dress 1980

Welshpool School Carnival Fancy Dress in 1980.

County Times: Welshpool School Carnival Fancy Dress 1980

Welshpool School Carnival Fancy Dress in 1980.

County Times: Crowds line the main road through Lanymynecg waiting to see Prince Charles during his visit 1980.

Crowds line the main road through Llanymynech waiting to see Prince Charles during his visit in 1980.

County Times: Prince Charles visits Llanymynech in 1980.

Expectant crowds during Prince Charles' visit to Llanymynech in 1980.

County Times: Llanymynech School prize winner 1980.

Llanymynech School prize winner in 1980.

County Times: Members of Llanrhaeadr YM British Legion at their annual party 1980.

Members of Llanrhaeadr YM British Legion at their annual party in 1980.

County Times: Garden party Llansantffraid 1980

A garden party in Llansantffraid in 1980.

County Times: County Times memory lane feature: Montgomery flower club July 1980, with the mayor and mayoress of Montgomery Cllr and Mrs Tegwyn Davies at Mellington Hall.

MS749-2017

 Montgomery Flower Club in 1980.