A HAPPY New Year to all 'Gazette' readers and advertisers. Hopefully 2012 will be a successful and prosperous time for you all.

Now that the celebrations have died down and life is returning to normal, we can start to assess the year just ended and think about the 12 months to come.

Our review of 2011, which starts this week, reminds us of just how momentous the year was for our town.

The first 'Gazette' of last year saw us reporting the closure of Leanchoil Hospital and launch the 'Fair Deal' campaign following the uncertainty over the future of RAF Kinloss after the British Government decided to scrap the Nimrod MRA4 aircraft due to be based there, and fear for the area's economic future.

But now Leanchoil is fully functional following a refurbishment, we know that the air base will become an Army base and several major companies have announced they will be investing in Forres, bringing with them many high-skilled jobs.

So, as we report Moray MSP Richard Lochhead saying in his New Year message, Forres starts 2012 with far more confidence than in 2011.

But there will still be significant challenges for our area over the next 12 months.

Perhaps the biggest of these will come in the summer, when RAF Kinloss becomes a British Army base, ending this part of Moray's 70-odd year association with the air force.

Change is never easy, but Forres is sure to make it work.

The number of honours servicemen from the base have received this year is a reminder though of the great impact they have had on our community and the good work they have done. They will be missed.

We are also reminded of the bravery personnel from RAF Kinloss have shown this week, after Squadron Leader Anthony Downing made the ultimate sacrifice whilst serving in Afghanistan. Our sympathies go out to his family, friends and colleagues.

One local group also facing a big challenge this year are Forres Mechanics.

Despite ending 2011 with defeat against Nairn County - only their second loss of the season - they begin the New Year in an excellent position. They are two points clear at the top of the Highland League, with two games in hand against their nearest rivals.

Everyone will be hoping they can maintain this impressive performance for the rest of the year and, hopefully, bring the title to Forres for the first time since 1986, which would give all of Forres something to celebrate.