The boss of a group of Northcliffe-owned weeklies in the East Midlands has left the business after 27 years.
Nick Purkiss, left, joined the Lincolnshire Echo as a sports reporter in December 1985.
Two years later he became one of the group’s youngest editors ever when he took over the chair at the Retford Times aged just 23.
But after chalking up a quarter of century in the role, Nick decided it was time to move on and left the company on Friday.
Lincolnshire Media publisher Richard Duxbury told staff: “Nick has made a significant contribution to Lincolnshire Media for over a quarter of a century.
“Everyone who has met Nick has only praise for his hard work and commitment to his role and the company.”
As well as running the Retford Times, Nick’s role as weeklies managing editor also included the editorial development of the Target Series across Boston, Sleaford, Louth and the Wolds, and the East Coast.
The post of editor of the Retford Times and Target Series was advertised on HoldtheFrontPage in August. It is not clear whether anyone has so far been appointed.
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When Nick first became editor of the Retford Times I was the ad manager – it was a great paper on which to learn about the values and principles of running local papers. I moved on in 1988 so it is testimony to Nick’s dedication to the cause that he stayed on so long. Good luck Nick and thanks for teaching me about the need to consider editorial planning when selling last minute ads !
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Worked with Nick at the Retford Times for several years and loved every minute of it. A great boss with a great sense of humour and great news sense. Sad to see him go.
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Nick Purkiss WAS the Retford Times and it is hard to imagine it without him. I worked with him for a couple of years before moving on to Nottingham and now the Yorkshire Post. He knew how to get the best out of his reporters and we had a laugh as well as learning our trade. I wish him and his family all the best
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A big loss for Northcliffe. I worked with Nick on the Lincolnshire weeklies in the ‘glory days’ of the Hull sub hub and we – and Paul Kemp – had quite a hotline going on (from Retford to Lincoln to Hull) as we filled about seven papers in a day and a half.
Good luck and all best wishes for your future.
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