THE past year has been a significant one for the Leigh area.

Every Friday for the past 52 months has been a red letter day since the reintroduction -- after a break of over 12 years -- of a paid for edition of your favourite weekly Journal. For over 127 years, since the launch of the Journal, which began in August 1873 as the Tyldesley Weekly Journal and came under the Leigh banner in January 1874, we have strived to bring you a balanced selection of local news. We aim to continue that tradition and pledge to ensure that your most eagerly awaited morning of the week falls on Journal Day. We are not so aloof as to believe we cannot improve our service to the community and welcome your comments and constructive criticism.

Please share with us your likes, or dislikes, and we will endeavour to continue to provide the news, sports coverage and the features you desire.

Put pen to paper and write to The Editor, The Journal, 44/46 Railway Road, Leigh, WEN7 4AT or email bgomm@lancashire.newsquest.co.uk We salute you, ladies THE community will be happy to join the Journal staff in saluting two most senior citizens. Bad news sells newspapers they say, but happy stories are the ones everyone prefers to be involved in.

Seeing a smile of joy on the face of 98-year-old Martha Hatton, still swimming even though she clearly recollects playing as a young girl and hearing the muffled explosion that signalled the Pretoria Pit disaster over 90 years ago, is magic.

And we are delighted to share our birthday with globetrotting chorister Ada Hilton, who chalks up her 103rd birthday today -- a true survivor from the 19th century who still has a happy song in her heart. Congratulations!