Looking at this month's issue of the "Simonstone News" are, back row, from left to right, Stan Douthwaite, Manzoor Hussein, Jim Penny, Tom Maloney and Jim Tate. Front row, left to right, Mrs D. Railton, J. Perry, Mr Ward, Richard Hinton, A. Donaghue and F. Clarkson.

The local firm of Mullard Ltd. now boasts its own tabloid newspaper - "Simonstone News." Circulation is in excess of 2,500 copies and already material for this month's edition is flowing in at such a rate that the next edition has been doubled to eight pages. Interest in the project is now so great that copies of the paper have been sent abroad to Mullard factories in Barcelona and Eindhoven, where personnel have praised the content and layout of the new publication.

The backbone behind production is a 12-strong team of local correspondents appointed to cover the glass factory and the cathode ray tube sections. Among its members is former teacher and Punjab University graduate Mr Manzoor Hussein who works on inspection at Mullards, and Mr Chudasama Ashokkumar. The latter, formerly of Tanzania, is a technical assistant in the quality laboratory at the factory. They hope to encourage all Pakistanis and Indians at Mullard to contribute their ideas, suggestions and items to the newspaper. The language difficulty need not prove a barrier for all contributions in languages other than English will be translated specially for inclusion. The paper's editorial staff is headed by chairman Mr Hugh C. H. Ward (plant personnel officer), with Mr Richard Hinton (glass factory planning department) as editor, and Mr John Parry (print room supervisor) as deputy editor.

Mr Ward explained: "The tabloid paper has been a great success - so much so that we are having to increase the size of our next issue. We began a newsheet in September 1970 for the glass factory and it was so successful we decided to issue it to all our workers. This year we decided to change the style completely and the idea has certainly proved popular." The paper is printed in Hindley, and copies are sent out on a regular monthly basis to all retired Mullard workers. Mullard Ltd, Simonstone has also been busy in another field as well as that of newspaper production. The factory has formed a special club for their retired workers and it is hoped that regular meetings will be held. These could take the form of social events, excursions or other activities. Their first social evening is planned for March 11th when entertainment will include a cabaret. The occasion would also be an ideal time for the appointment of a chairman, treasurer, secretary and other officers.