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Seven editors meet to mark regional daily's move

Seven editors of a regional daily staged a unique gathering to mark its move to a new office.

Past and present chiefs at the Derby Telegraph met at Northcliffe House, the paper’s home for the past 34 years, as staff prepare to relocate to a new base in the city centre from Monday.

The seven – Mike Wood, Neil Fowler, Mike Lowe, Keith Perch, Mike Norton, Steve Hall and current boss Neil White – all edited the paper at some stage during the Northcliffe House era.

The only Telegraph editor since then who was missing from the roll-call was Alex Leys, who edited the title in the mid-1980s.

(From left) Steve Hall, Mike Wood, Mike Lowe, Mike Norton, Keith Perch, Neil White and Neil Fowler

(From left) Steve Hall, Mike Wood, Mike Lowe, Mike Norton, Keith Perch, Neil White and Neil Fowler

Mike Lowe, who edited the paper between 1991 and 1996, recalled a memorable incident at Northcliffe House during his tenure there.

He said: “I remember our so-called security man walking into my office with a ‘very important visitor who says he’s from the Home Office’.

“He turned out to be a nutter with a rather large knife hidden inside his coat.

“Luckily, Keith Perch was around to calm him down.”

Current editor Neil White added: “If I were to pick one moment, it was when mother and daughter (education correspondent) Zena Hawley and (health correspondent) Caroline Jones walked into the office after both winning Midlands Media Awards.

“The applause from all departments made the hair stand on the back of my neck.

“I was at Villa Park the evening before when they were victorious and the Telegraph was named Midlands Newspaper of the Year.

“It was my proudest moment in 30 years in journalism.”

Now owned by Local World, the Telegraph has been based at the Meadow Road site since its move from its historic Corn Exchange premises in the city in 1980.

From Monday the Telegraph’s staff will once again be based back in the city centre, at a building in Siddals Road.

Each of the seven editors speak about their days at Meadow Road in a full-length feature published in the Telegraph today.

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  • November 12, 2014 at 9:42 am
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    Between them, they created a newspaper which has consistently been among the very best in the industry over the past 20-30 years. I for one am proud to have been a Telegraph man during that period.

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  • November 12, 2014 at 10:36 am
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    Gang of Four: in this case Mikes and Neils mostly

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  • November 12, 2014 at 11:49 am
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    Wow. Mike Norton and Mike Lowe at the same event together – something I never expected to see….

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