WE'RE all going on a summer holiday ... maybe.

But the chances of Leigh,Tyldesley or Atherton nowadays becoming ghost towns for a week or a fortnight are slim as the local holiday week pattern has dropped-off.

Through most of the last century the most popular question posed in The Journal's offices was "can you tell me when next year's local holidays are?"

We even handed-out a free guide -- the cotton towns' holiday list -- which was printed annually and listed all the region's summer and September holiday dates.

If the request came before such guides were out -- or in the 1970s when the mills began to close, commuters moved in and holiday trends change -- the summer formula was simple.

"Stop work on the Friday preceding the last Saturday in June" were the words etched in the mind of Journal staff.

Oh, but just to complicate matters that first week of the holiday fortnight was known as "Bolton week" with "Leigh week" being the second.

And Wigan week started as Leigh week ended, posing a quandary for some families whose breadwinners worked in different locations. If dad worked at Taylor's or Turners in Trafford Park, then the family holiday came almost a month later with the "Manchester holidays".

But certainly in the 50s, 60s and even in to 70s the local mass exodus was to North West coastal resorts rather than Mediterranean hotspots, Florida or the Canaries.

Blackpool, Morecambe and Southport were hits with everyone. Donkeys on the sands, the Winter Gardens, Golden Mile or those who favoured North Wales made for Rhyl.

Sometimes they chose organised fun at Butlin's holiday camp in Pwhelli or Pontin's at Prestatyn.

Either way most remembered to meet The Journal photographer under the promenade clock for a family photo in the next edition.

"We've been coming here for 30 years and we'll be back next summer ..." familiar words to our staffmen Brian Cockram and the late Arthur Thompson.

Just like the sight of musical clown Charlie Caroli (without his big, red nose) eating a breakfast bowl of prunes in the camp canteen at Pontin's. Happy days!

What are your Wakes Weeks memories. Let us know. Drop a line to Brian and send us a photgraph if you've got one.