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Wedding reunites local press pair after four decades

Two journalists who both worked on local papers in Oxfordshire in the 1970s have been reunited – for the wedding of their children.

Charmaine Szecowka, daughter of much-travelled former regional newspaperman Stan, was recently married to Aaron Parkin, whose father Clive is also a journalist.

Proud dads Stan and Clive, pictured left, both worked for weekly titles in Banbury in the 1970s – Clive on the now-defunct Banbury Advertiser, and Stan on its successor title the Banbury Cake

The two men even shared the same editor, the late Graham Wilton, who went from being editor of the Advertiser to editor of the Cake when it was first launched.

In a further coincidence, the wedding of Charmaine and Aaron was featured in The Four Shires magazine – whose editor is Graham’s son Jeremy.

Said Gulf Weekly editor Stan: “You couldn’t make it up! Who would have thought our former editor’s son would feature our children’s wedding in his magazine?

“I can remember Jeremy hovering round my desk getting in the way! He told me he was inspired by our enthusiasm and ended up as a national press photographer on the Daily Star before concentrating on the family publishing business.”

He added: “Hopefully he’ll send me some complimentary photos as I’m still paying for the wedding!”

Added Clive: “I remember Aaron coming home one weekend to say he had met this wonderful girl, Charmaine, whose dad was also a journalist.

“A short time later he informed me that not only was this girl’s dad also a journo, but that he had started his career in Banbury with Graham – how spooky is that?”

Charmaine and Aaron met while taking part in a European drama tour while at university in Essex.

They were married last month at Newbottle Church, near Banbury.

  • Wedding day joy for Charmaine Szecowka and proud dad Stan. Pictures by Four Shires magazine.
  • Comments

    Roseanne Edwards (07/09/2010 10:54:48)
    Well well well! I remember Stan getting every by-line on every page in the Cake for years!!
    Great to know you’re well and still have good connections with Banbury Stan.
    Just one correction – I think Graham Wilton started the Banbury Cake having left the Banbury Focus – which is the paper I moved to a year or two later – not the Advertiser. Graham also edited the Banbury Herald and Post some years later.
    Lovely pix Stan!!

    DAVE (08/09/2010 13:15:17)
    Thank goodness Charmaine doesn’t take after her dad with her looks. (Only joking Stan!)

    Malcolm Bromhall (08/09/2010 16:49:22)
    Back in the day, I always used to give Stan loads of by-lines…well, I didn’t want anyone else to get the blame! (It’s a joke Stan…honest!)