"How many people worked at the Advertiser?

"About half of them!"

That's typical of the banter which was a regular feature of Ormskirk's very own weekly paper that's now a sad former shadow of itself as part of Reach PLC, ex Trinity Mirror.

Speak to many old timers in Ormskirk and it's hard to find anyone who buys it anymore; little wonder when you see the paucity of local news for a hefty £1.50 a week.

QLocal's Roger Blaxall saw a few of his old colleagues at the latest Advertiser reunion on Saturday and is thankful to Keith Peat for this short post on the latest in a long line of similar events:

'The reunion has been taking place over many years now, and was the brainchild of John (Toots) Blinkhorn who organised the first and many subsequent annual gatherings, it is currently arranged by Keith Peat.

The first one was held 15 years ago in September 2004 at the Greyhound Inn on Aughton Street and is still held there every year.

In the earlier years numbers increased as word spread and old colleagues (some who had over 40 years service at the Advertiser) had kept in touch, they would inform each other of any upcoming event and it proved very popular as numbers swelled considerably; unfortunately as time has moved on, the numbers have begun to diminish due to the passing and health issues of many valued colleagues.

Pictured are l - r: Steve (Billy) Bevan, Bernie Jones, Kevin (Kiwi) Atkinson, Alan Fairhurst, Fred Gardner, John Draper, Brian Ramsden, Keith Peat and Dave McAllister; they all served their apprenticeships within a few years of each other and are now themselves mainly retired - they tend to be the regulars now along with one or two more who this year are missing due to prior arrangements.

We will continue for as long as possible, some who have now moved out of the area make a real effort to attend, reminiscing and catching up.

Any ex Ormskirk Advertiser employee is welcome and can contact me atkopite_k@hotmail.com

Just for the record, here are a few of the Addy luminaries who worked at the paper - some of when have gone onto much greater things: Winifred Robinson, (BBC R4) John Cocks, (Lancashire Life) Martyn Snape (who sadly died this summer) Steve Orme, Tony Schumacher (military career) Cliff Birchall, Geoff Howard, Graham Whyte, (Radio Merseyside) Simon Shrouder (Transport for the North) - and whatever happened to Roger Blaxall?