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Weekly editor honoured by local university

An editor who became the UK’s second female football referee has been honoured by a university for her contribution to the seaside town she serves.

Anne Edwards, editor of the weekly Great Yarmouth Mercury, has been made an Honorary Fellow of University Campus Suffolk in recognition of her work for the community.

Anne, who has served as editor at the Archant Norfolk title for the last 12 years, described herself as “overwhelmed” by the honour.

See received her fellowship in a ceremony held at Great Yarmouth Minster.

Anne Edwards

Said Anne:  “When I was offered the Fellowship I was shocked, and then to later find out it was for services to the community of Great Yarmouth I was stunned, but thrilled.

“I believe it shows the value of hyperlocal and community news and the respect in which the Mercury brand – the newspaper, website and social media sites – is held.  I am still overwhelmed by the ceremony and honour.”

Anne left school mid-term in 1970 to take up a junior reporter apprenticeship at her local paper the Melton Times, in Leicestershire.

She served as sports editor for six years and qualified as a football referee in 1972.

Anne, pictured, became the paper’s editor in 1987 before joining the Peterborough Evening Telegraph as a sub editor, going on to work as chief sub and production editor.

Before moving to the Mercury she also held several roles at the daily Newcastle Journal including night editor, chief sub editor, assistant editor, deputy editor and acting editor.

3 comments

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  • October 20, 2014 at 10:03 am
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    I was lucky enough to work with Anne as a trainee reporter in Great Yarmouth. She is a marvellous woman and a credit to the industry – congratulations, Anne.

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  • October 20, 2014 at 6:56 pm
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    Well done, Anne – well deserved. Keep sticking it up ’em.

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  • October 21, 2014 at 7:47 am
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    Anne has worked her socks off to make the Mercury one of the best local weeklies in the country.
    She’s got a ferocious passion and pride both in her paper and her adopted seaside town – and has become Miss Great Yarmouth over the last 12 years.
    And, knowing Anne, it will be many a long year yet before they blow full time on her as she continues to fly the flag for the very best grassroots journalism in these tough times.

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