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Mercury veteran calls it a day after 44 years

The longest serving team member of the Matlock Mercury has filed her last copy after 44 years with the newspaper.

Marguerita Taylor – better known as Greta – has been a village correspondent for the Mercury since 1958.

She was recruited by the paper’s founder editor Ella Smith and has since worked under many different editors including John Upritchard, Don Hale and Amanda Hatfield.

Despite losing the use of her writing hand after a stroke six years ago, Greta has continued to write articles for the Mercury.

Matlock Mercury reporter Matt Barlow said: “Greta’s fantastic – she’s a bit of a village legend and can remember the first editor of the Matlock Mercury.”

Greta said: “It was through the annual Horticultural Show that Ella Smith rang and asked if I was able to help her out.

“I was able to get the information from a councillor and I went on from there.”

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