An outgoing weekly editor has signed off with a blog chronicling 15.85 things he learned during his time in the chair.

Glenn Ebrey, pictured left, worked his last day at the Croydon Advertiser on Friday and decided to share with readers the wisdom he has gained in almost five years in the role.

In the blog Glenn touched on newspapers’ ability to change lives, citing the Advertiser’s successful campaign to get the government to crack down on drug-drivers after the death of a teenager on its patch – proof, he says, that local papers “still matter” as a force for good and driving positive change.

He also noted the paper’s coverage of the August 2011 riots, which he described as “the darkest day in Croydon’s post-war history,” and a front page appeal helped which secure the conviction of a man who started a huge blaze which destroyed the town’s historic House of Reeves Furniture store.

Glenn even found room for a passing nod to HTFP in the blog, referencing our story about the double-page spread on ghost stories he ran in the Advertiser – despite himself having dismissed paranormal phenomena as “total bollocks” on Twitter.

He further recalled the paper’s tongue-in-cheek campaign to stop Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell from launching campaigns, which led to an appearance on the BBC’s Daily Politics show.

Wrote Glenn: “On occasions (we’ll call it 15 per cent of the time, for the purposes of this jaunty article) this job frustrated me. But the rest of the time, it excited me, it thrilled me, it made me feel alive.

“Since I was nine-years-old, I’ve wanted to be a journalist. Not only did I achieve my ambition, I got to edit – I was the bloody editor, for goodness sake – of one of the most famous and respected local newspapers in the country.

“For a few reasons, it’s time for me to step aside and do something different, but I’ve had the best time. God bless the Croydon Advertiser, and all who continue to set sail in her.”

Glenn, an avid Tottenham Hotspur FC supporter, added: “One piece of advice to my successor – don’t reveal which football team you support. I did and it backfired, rather spectacularly.

“Palace had the last laugh this season though, and it’s been one of the highlights of my time here to see how much the club has grown.”

Point 15.85 in his blog was titled: “And Finally… I loved this job.”

The Advertiser will now be overseen by Andy Worden, a previous editor of the paper, who will combine the role with that of editing the Crawley News and East Grinstead Observer.