A small team of journalists fighting a constant battle to bring out newspapers in the face alarming lack of resources and investment; a general manager and advertising staff trying to generate revenue in a highly competitive market place, and a handful of printing staff producing readable pages against all the odds.

That was the scene that greeted me a little more than 17 years ago when I walked into the Boroughtate offices in Otley of Wharfedale Newspapers.

Having just been appointed editor-in-chief by new owners Westminster Press, one thing was instantly clear: Bill Pearson, editor of the Wharfedale and Airedale Observer; Brian Lynch, editor of the Ilkley Gazette, and general manager Geoff Cooke and their colleagues had worked wonders to keep the newspapers going at all.

Sadly, all three of these stalwarts have since departed this world, but without them neither the Observer nor Gazette would be here today.

For me, May of 1991 marked the start of a whole new ball game. With a background of more then 30 years working on morning, evening, Sunday and local weekly newspapers, for the first time I found myself employed on loss-making titles.

It was obvious that changes would have to be made if the papers were to survive. It was equally inevitable that there would be those amongst our readers and advertisers who would not like some of the measures we regarded as necessary.

However, the staff themselves were fantastically supportive, and it is largely though their efforts that the Observer and Gazette made the transition to profitability and increased sales and then went on to win national and regional awards for advertising and journalistic expertise.

These included people like sports editor Rachel O'Connor, a past winner of Sports Writer of the Year in the Yorkshire Press Awards, and still with the papers after more than 40 years' service.

People, too, like reporter Barrie Pennett who covered the Aireborough patch for 49 years before he sadly died just as he reached retirement age. He could have taught today's youngsters a thing or two!

Yes, changes have been necessary. The technological advances from typewriters and paper to computerised page make-up have proceeded at breakneck speed. Content, too, has inevitably been affected.

Small local newspapers can no longer survive in isolation. While some may like to see towns like Otley and Ilkley have local newspapers with nothing but news from their very own immediate area, the harsh economic reality of the modern world means that compromises have to be made.

However, hand in with those compromises come improvements, especially in terms of printing quality, the introduction of colour, more attractive design and better readability.

And at the heart of it all is the content, the reporting of events, issues, achievements and milestones. Over the last 17 years there have been many of these; some tragic, some highly controversial and others joyous occasions.

Sometimes our coverage has pleased our readers; sometimes it has upset people. As journalists we have to accept this. The role of the local newspapers is to reflect the community it serves - and this includes warts and all.

Unpalatable truths do need to be reported, even though sometimes the mere fact that they are published has led to our newspapers being accused of sensationalism'.

Another, dare I say, misconception is that newspapers are interested only in bad news.

This perception is perhaps exaggerated by that fact that people are often only too ready to contact their local newspaper with a grievance or complaint, but are reluctant to blow their own trumpet' and tell us about their achievements.

The fact is that we are delighted to report good news, whether it be someone's hundredth birthday, Diamond Wedding, an academic or sporting achievement, or any other personal success story. Equally, it is heartwarming to report the success of the carnivals, shows, galas and other events which typify the community spirit that exists in our towns and villages.

And it is my personal belief that this is where the biggest single issue facing Otley, Ilkley and other places in Wharfedale and Aireborough lies - the retention of community identity.

It does not matter a jot that Otley is a traditional market town and Ilkley a spa town - two places with very different histories and populations.

It is essential to both their futures that they retain as much of their independence and self-sufficiency as possible. This extends, too, to the smaller but no less important communities of Guiseley and Yeadon and the like, not to mention our many villages.

Policies of city centralisation and rural cutbacks are threatening the very essence of our communities.

In recent years closures of schools and police stations and threats to hospitals, fire stations and post offices - and, in the case of Otley, the loss of one of its auction marts - are diminishing the chances of communities retaining their individualities.

We at Wharfedale Newspapers have been proud to have lent our backing to a number of campaigns aimed at keeping local services. Some of these battles have been lengthy and, as in the case of the Coronation Hospital at Ilkley are still dragging on.

The threats to the satellite' towns seem never ending, as can be evidenced by the case of Wharfedale Hospital in Otley.

After 25 years of campaigning, the town got its new hospital - yet the battle has not been won.

Who could have foreseen that little by little - and by disgraceful stealth - the health authority would undermine this achievement by closing down and centralising more and more services in Leeds?

Fortunately, in this part of the world there are community-minded people prepared to take on the authorities, whether it be on one of the issues mentioned above, or the case of developers trying to bulldoze pubs and other centres of community activity in the quest to make money.

Campaigning efforts are often supported by MPs and councillors, though I would venture to suggest that on occasions even more could be achieved if political differences were put aside in the interest of the community.

It has to be said that politicians and the Press have never been good bedfellows. Newspapers are an easy target when things go politically wrong, and while journalists have to accept the way they report political stories is important, politicians also have a duty to reflect that on occasions their own policies might be less than sound.

Over the years politicians of all parties have had their disagreements with us, which, in a way, is a healthy state of affairs. These differences of opinion have nearly always been expressed in a civilised and constructive manner, for which I am grateful.

I hope that people will continue to fight for what they believe is right and that, where appropriate, they can count on the support of their local newspaper. I have thoroughly enjoyed working in a beautiful part of the world well worth fighting for.

My overriding memory of my time with Wharfedale Newspapers is probably the Business Achievement Awards we staged in 2006.

The brainchild of our late advertising manager Dawn Martin, the awards reflected all that was good about Wharfedale and Aireborough. The success stories were many and varied, the support for the awards was exceptional and the gala dinner was an evening never to forget.

Long may success reign in the area. And to all the people with whom I have come into contact - whether you were throwing bouquets or brickbats - thank you for your interest and contribution to our newspapers, and thank you for making my time here so enjoyable.