Former staff of the South Wales Argus – many of whom haven’t seen each other for 20 years – are to be reunited.

A reunion for those who worked at the paper during the 1980s is being organised by former reporter Jackie Huybs, formerly known as Jackie Woods.

The decision to set up the event was sparked by a conversation between Jackie and some of her former colleagues, and a get-together is now planned at the Irish Club in Pilgwenlly, Newport, on December 3.

Jackie said: “There were a lot of people working at the South Wales Argus in the mid-1980s who had joined the paper either as their first job after graduating or as a second step from a weekly, so we were generally young and responsibility-free and had a great social life.

“It’s been 20 years since then, and looking back on it – although we grumbled at the time like everyone else does – many of the people I’ve spoken to say it was probably one of the best working environments they’ve ever had.

“We’ve chosen the Irish Club in Pilgwenlly partly because it’s near the Argus offices – but also partly because we had a big party there in 1987 to mark the end of a six-week strike over the introduction of new technology and subsequent loss of print jobs.”

Jackie worked at the Argus for four years as the paper’s Torfaen chief district reporter, and is now freelancing in PR and writing – sometimes for the Argus’s Business magazine.

She has already contacted many of her former colleagues, but would like to hear from anyone else who would like to attend.

Among those she has so far been unable to trace are Ann Heggerty, Chris Anderson, Pauline Chudley, John Brooks, Jon Harlow, David Facey and Margaret Rooke.

Anyone who would like more information on the reunion is asked to contact Jackie at [email protected] or 01495 790212.