This year is Wavelength’s 36th year of publishing, and far from slowing down, bowing to societal pressures, getting a mortgage and popping out sprogs we’ve just finished our 250th issue of the mag, which you can peruse and purchase here.

Over the course of our 36 years of mag making we’ve accumulated a huge archive of images, many of which were shot by our late great founder John Conway and live as colour slides, neatly stacked in one corner of our office. Over the last few months we’ve been upturning the plastic boxes which contain them over a light box and wading through the content. What we’ve discovered is a veritable mix of imagery documenting the evolution of British and international surf culture throughout the 70’s & 80’s as it exploded into the mainstream. So come with us on a vivid and nostalgic trip down memory lane and see if you can spot your nan (hopefully not topless).

If you’ve got any information about the images or those featured in them, drop them in the comments as we’d love to gather more info on them.

All photos John Conway