It's a shame the Observer dispensed with all its printing staff in 1991. Most of them were local and provided journalists with numerous interesting local news items which they would never have otherwise procured.

The reason for the printers' being dismissed was due to an irrational fear that a Labour Government might be elected and the Trade Unions might exercise some kind of power over the proprietors.

Thus, everyone in the union (apart from a small number of bosses) where made redundtant.

The Observer is poorer for the loss of its many local staff. It is also poorer because it is no longer printed in Rochdale. The timing of print runs is just one issue that means the paper often misses crucial 'up to the minute' news.

No ... you're right ... I no longer buy it and neither do my friends though I wish them well.

Merrry Christmas

   A very interesting articule. I have always read and kept up with the local news for many years, so it was with interest that I found the story of the very beginnings of the newspaper very informative.

   I am intrested in a list of all the employees at the time this article if there is a record for the printers of the paper. Wrigley's published the paper, did you have any informtion on them, how long did they print the paper, who there employees were.