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Editorial assistant celebrates 40 years with newspaper

Lin WiddecombeAn editorial assistant has celebrated 40 years working for the newspaper she started on as a teenager.

Lin Widdecombe, pictured left, has marked four decades at the Torquay Herald Express, where she began working as an editorial admin assistant and switchboard operator in November 1975.

Lin has worked for seven editors at the Herald Express – George Matthews, Roy Baker, John Budworth, Jim Mitchell, Brendan Hanrahan, Andy Phelan and present editor Jim Parker.

She was initially based at the Herald Express’s former office on Braddons Hill Road, Torquay, but the newspaper moved five years later to Barron Hill Road.

Said Lin: “Over my time here I have seen many changes – when I first arrived they still used hot metal in the production process.

“We even had our own press and street vendors. Seems a lifetime ago. I’ve also had three children in this time but always come back.

“You are at work an awful big chunk of your life so I also think it’s important to make it a nice place to be.

“Hopefully with my techniques to make people dress up for ‘Fancy Dress Friday’ it brings a bit of alternative colour to the office.”

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  • November 27, 2015 at 11:01 am
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    Ah, the legendary Lin. One of the nicest people I’ve ever had the privilege to meet. Hope you enjoy the next 40 years, hun.

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  • November 27, 2015 at 6:29 pm
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    And work was always a nice place to be when Lin was there. Congratulations Miss Widebottom. xx

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  • November 28, 2015 at 9:27 am
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    Lin held the starring role in a memorable cast of great Herald Express characters back in the 1980s – Bob Hill, Keith Spann, Paul James & Brian Carter to name but four…

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