A journalist who joined her local newspaper nearly 40 years ago and rose to become its editorial director is to stand down at the end of the year.

Brien Beharrell, left, is bowing out of her role with the Newbury Weekly News which she has edited for the past 17 years.

The 58-year-old, who is also vice-chairman of the National Council for the Training of Journalists, joined the paper after completing the pre-entry course at Highbury College, Portsmouth in 1975.

She became deputy editor in 1984 and was editing the paper at the time of perhaps its biggest story – the shooting of 15 people in the nearby town of Hungerford in August 1987.

Brien was eventually appointed group editor in 1997 and joined the board of the NWN as editorial director in 2002.

She is standing down and the end of this year to coincide with her husband’s retirement from academic work.

Said Brien: ““Retiring from an organisation with which I have been associated for more than 40 years was an important decision to take.

“My husband, a college lecturer and former journalist, who has already worked past his official retirement age, has decided to relinquish some of his academic work this year and so the time is right for me to seize the opportunity to do something similar. It will no doubt be very strange for a while to lead a life not governed by deadlines!

“We have a great team here in Newbury, one I have no doubt will do everything possible to ensure the continuing success of the print and online publications in years to come.

“I am very grateful to all those associated with Newbury News Limited who, over the years, have given me the opportunity to have one of the best jobs in local newspaper publishing in the UK.”

James Gurney, managing director of the Newbury News Limited, said: “Brien has been an integral part of the business during her 40 years of service contributing greatly to its overall success.

“The business isn’t just saying goodbye to a highly regarded editor but also to a much loved and respected friend and colleague who will be greatly missed by all staff.”

The Newbury Weekly News was named the country’s best paid-for Weekly Newspaper by the Newspaper Society in 2006, and its website newburytoday  was one of the first to post news online prior to print publication as a matter of course.

The role of group editor of the paper is currently being advertised on HoldtheFrontPage.