We used to work for the Gazette in Blackpool in the 1970s and still meet up

The Gazette girls enjoy getting together for dinners out and to share memorable stories about their time in the office.

In those days the Gazette’s HQ was based in the middle of town, on Victoria Street, before relocating to Cherry Tree Road in the 1980s.

There were numerous employees besides the reporters and photographers and the Victoria Street office was a bustling place, with the old hot metal presses producing each day’s edition. The girls - Sue Dale, Norma Brooke, Anita Brown, Chris Evans and Jill Wilson - all worked in ‘front of counter’ roles, sorting out classified adverts, taking orders for the photos that appeared in the paper.

Som of them worked on the old-style telephone switchboard.

After moving from Victoria Street, most of the girls moved to the district offices and no longer worked with each other - but they never lost touch.

They recently celebrated Anita’s 70th birthday with a night out at the Ciao Ciao Italian restaurant on Devonshire Road, Blackpool. Norma Brooke is now in her nineties

Anita, a former Highfield Secondary School pupil, still works as a teacher at a school on the Fylde coast and has fond memories of her time at the Gazette.

She said: “They were incredible days, the office was really busy, with lots of people and lots going on.

“There was a great social life in the evenings too - we’d all go to the Grapes pub, Sands nightclub and the Yellow Submarine.

“Babychamb was everyone’s favourite tipple those days - well, it used to be mine!

“There aren’t as many of us left, these days, but we still love to meet up and reminisce!”