Your ‘Gazette’... bringing you all the news for 175 years

THIS week the ‘Gazette’ is publishing a special supplement to commemorate 175 years as your local newspaper.

Along with some history about notable organisations and institutions around the Forres area, the paper charts its timeline over the last two centuries, and reflects on the fact that a lot of interesting and dedicated people put a lot of effort into the paper to get it here.The next significant anniversary will be 200 years – not a bad track record for a local newspaper. And we have every intention of honouring our predecessors and reaching that target, with your support and by tackling issues that matter to you.

This week, to prove the point, local people have a lot to say about a variety of issues, which demonstrates that the paper is there to inform and debate – on everything from green burials and ongoing difficulties in securing appointments at the local health centre to scams and showing support for your local football team by queuing for hours for a match ticket.

One local company (A.J. Engineering), which was born out of the ashes of another, has also recently expanded its premises and continues to expand its workforce, proving that positive changes can come from adversity and hard work.

Times might be hard, but the future is promising, and the ‘Gazette’ wants to share it with the local community.

Congratulations go out to the three Forres cyclists – Doug Cowie, Carlo Miele and Mark Priestly – who cycled from Land’s End to John o’ Groats in eight days, raising more than £5,000 for charity along the way. Details of how you can pledge cash are published in this week’s edition.

Well done, also, to two young sailors from Findhorn who have been making a big splash in their sport, and received a special Scottish youth prize.

On a sour note, the daughter of a Forres pensioner is urging people to bin junk mail that promises you have won a cash prize if you return the coupon and enter a free prize draw.

Taking part in the ‘free’ draw has cost her mum around £3,000, and all she has got in return is a few parcels filled with sweets and cakes.

The issue has caused a lot of heartache for the family, and she wants to make sure that it doesn’t happen to you.

Finally, we hear that Moray Council is launching its budget consultation, with a roadshow being held in Forres. If you can’t attend, you can get information from the website, or ask your local councillor. It is important that your voice is heard.