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Weekly welcomes heroes home with souvenir wrap

A weekly newspaper has produced an eight-page wraparound supplement to cover a homecoming parade by Royal Marine Commandos.

The Somerset County Gazette produced the souvenir supplement to mark the return of 40 Commando, based near Taunton, from a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan in which they lost 14 members of their ranks.

During their tour, the paper launched its Shoulder to Shoulder campaign encouraging readers and business to display a poster showing their support for the Royal Marines and their families back home – with one being displayed as far away as California.

And in preparation for their return from the frontline, the title updated the poster with a ‘welcome home’ message and had 1,000 copies printed for distribution across Taunton ahead of the parade.

  • The front and back page of the souvenir wrap for the Marines’ parade.
  • Editor-in-chief Ken Bird said: “There was no way the heavy rain on the day was going to keep the people of Taunton and beyond from showing their appreciation for our elite Royal Marines.

    “The parade was a poignant and fitting way to honour their achievements and we hope our supplement becomes a lasting souvenir of a special day.”

    A local business has also started a new charity in aid of the Royal Marines, backed by the County Gazette, and it sponsored 1,000 special flags for the homecoming parade.

    The title’s coverage of the parade was boosted by Newsquest colleagues at the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald agreeing to swap their 6pm print slot at the Oxford press – because the parade started just two hours before the normal reporter deadline.

  • The poster produced by the paper for the homecoming.
  • 3 comments

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    • November 22, 2010 at 8:43 am
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      Great wrap, shame it’s ruined with the 4 pictures on the back page

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    • November 22, 2010 at 9:06 am
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      Agreed, a great wrap. But it’s a little unfair to way “ruined.” Doubtless the people in the four pics don’t agree. It’s all a matter of opinion. Some people would say too much space was used up with the main pic! Superb effort!

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    • November 22, 2010 at 9:07 am
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      Agreed, a great wrap. But it’s a little unfair to say “ruined.” Doubtless the people in the four pics don’t agree. It’s all a matter of opinion. Some people would say too much space was used up with the main pic! Superb effort!

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