TODAY marks your Wirral Globe's 42nd birthday.

The paper has seen many changes over the last four decades, from a 16-page advertiser with not a line of news in it in 1973 to the 100-page edition packed with local interest that we publish today.

The title has become synonymous with campaigning and investigative journalism, and it is through this commitment to shining a light on matters some would rather keep in the shadows that we have received national recognition by the newspaper industry.

But it’s not just the heavy stuff, we’re also community-focused and lend a hand when needed.

In the last 12 months alone, we’ve helped dozens of people achieve their fundraising goals by sharing their stories.

As we celebrate our 42nd year, let’s take a look back at some of the stories that have graced our front page over the last 12 months.

Wirral Globe:

In October (and for many months after), the big talking point across Wirral was plans to merge two fire stations into one.

More than 500 concerned householders turned up to the October meeting to express their views on the plans – with around 300 having to wait outside due to the venue being too small. This wasn’t the only time people were locked out of such meetings, with a later meeting in April seeing 150 people left outside.

In November, the Globe carried an exclusive interview with Birkenhead MP Frank Field in which he called for a blitz on anti-social behaviour in the town he described as being the “Beirut of the north”.

Numerous organisations, including the police, council and local housing associations, are still fighting the battle against yobs in the area.

December saw Eastham special needs school Lyndale dealt a heartbreaking blow as the local authority’s ruling cabinet unanimously voted to close it.

The campaign to save Lyndale is one the Globe has backed since day one, and a battle we are still fighting now.

Our first edition of 2015 saw Globe readers praised for their overwhelming generosity after a huge increase in numbers using its over-night sleeping service at Christmas and New Year following our campaign the previous week.

Another time Globe readers helped change someone’s life was in April following an appeal for donations to help young Wirral swimmer Nathan Young fund his once-in-a-lifetime trip to Texas.

Hundreds of pounds arrived at the Globe for the 16-year-old, who went on to represent Team GB at the World Deaf Swimming Championships in August.

May saw the culmination of months of General Election campaigning. Locally, the big stories were Esther McVey losing her Wirral West seat to Labour’s Margaret Greenwood and questions over pre-election promises to look at the Mersey Tunnel tolls. We’re still waiting...

July saw the launch of Wirral Council’s “zero-tolerance” crackdown on litter louts. Fines worth £11,000 were handed out in the first two days of the scheme. The crackdown has caused controversy with Globe readers with claims the authority is targeting smokers with 98% of fines handed out for dropped cigarette butts.

In August, Globe readers helped make terminally ill William Magee’s sixth birthday one to remember.
An appeal from mum Kelly on Facebook led to William – who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy - receiving more than 28,000 cards.

September saw Claire House Children’s Hospice rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted inspectors.

The world-famous centre was inspired by Claire Cain, who died from cancer in July 1989, just a couple of weeks before her tenth birthday.

The hospice’s success is another example of the community spirit of Globe readers who donated tens of thousands of pounds to help “the dream become a reality”.

Here’s to another 42 years of the Globe!