A regional daily editor has thanked readers in an editorial marking the title’s 50^th anniversary.

Susan Perry, of the The Leader in Wrexham and Flintshire, penned the message as part of a special print and online package celebrating their birthday at the end of last month.

A commemorative print edition was published with a series of articles looking back on the title’s history and some of the major stories covered by the North Wales team.

The coverage included a picture of the very first front page back on Monday, October 29, 1973, which ran a lead story from City Editor John Finch on the prospect of petrol being rationed ahead of Christmas.

How The Leader looked on the day it was launched in Wrexham on Monday, October 29, 1973.

Images of former members of staff and old offices were also pulled up from the archives, together with the revelation that former footballers Ian Rush and the late Gary Speed also used to deliver the title as paper boys.

While highlighting the many changes since the newspaper was first published half a century ago, Susan also pointed to the title’s core values which have remained the same from day one.

Wrote Susan: “Fifty years have passed since readers first received their copy of what was then called the Evening Leader. What a different world it was then and this newspaper was launched on the back of a national boom that quickly turned to bust!

“The country’s economy was a hit and miss affair, sound familiar?, and while huge leaps were being made in technology it was also a terrible era of interminable strikes, the delights of the three-day week, power cuts and bankruptcies.

“Over the years that world has been transformed, but the Leader today still battles to do what it has always done – to keep our readers informed and entertained.

“A newspaper is never just an anonymous product – it has a heart and a soul and our aim over the long years has always been to bring you the very best news and sports package every day with the emphasis very much on what’s LOCAL.”

The Leader, first published in Wrexham before the boundaries were extended out to Flintshire, was taken over by Newsquest after its purchase of NWN Media in September 2017.

Susan, who was appointed as group editor of Newsquest North Wales in January 2018, promised The Leader’s  readership that the reporting team will continue to put them at the very heart of what they do.

“What makes our newspaper really matter is you… your life, your interests, your opinions are what made us what we were and what we now are,” she said. “You are what allows us to reflect the daily life of the communities we serve accurately. And as we celebrate our birthday at 50 we can’t thank you enough for sticking with us.

“We are a part of the communities we serve and our relationships with those in each of our areas – readers and advertisers – is ongoing.

“We have moved into an online/digital world and much of our content is now read in that environment… but whatever the platform, our aim is to deliver a publication of quality.

“You really are valued as a reader and we really hope that you will continue to enjoy the Leader for many years to come.”

The Leader team celebrated their 50th birthday with a special 16-page commemorative edition and online package.