GIVEN the number of industries decimated in St Helens and the high rates of poverty, it's unsurprising the town has been ranked a sad place to live.

Residents such as Andy Reid, Martin Murray, Michael Pennington, Kiera Weathers, the late Steve Prescott and many others; prove that it doesn't matter where you're from, it's where you're going that counts.

Life is what you make of it and we have plenty of inspiration to try and improve ourselves and the town.

Michael Egan, The Shires