A picture editor has retired after 45 years in regional journalism and more than 30,000 photographic assignments.

Barry Hollis worked his final day on Thursday after spending the past 37 years with the KM Group, in Kent.

Some of his most memorable jobs included Michael Crawford filming Some Mothers Do ‘Ave Em on the Isle of Sheppey in the 1970s, the opening of the Channel Tunnel in 1994 and severe flooding that hit the county in 2000.

Barry, pictured below, has worked on the group’s picture desk for the last 23 years, where he was responsible for co-ordinating picture coverage for it titles across the county as well as helping develop the company’s video content.

Said Barry: “I consider the role to be very important, but it has changed with video being part of a press photographer’s duties.

“Keeping up with the technology to send remotely wherever you are these days is a must.

“You have to be good at your job its a very tough market out there, with a lot of people that think they are a good photographer.

“Persuasion has always been the gift to get the best picture. Being able to walk into an event and get what you want in a short space of time is essential, and getting good pictures at the end of it.”

Barry began his career at his hometown newspaper the Sheerness Time Guardian before joining the KM Group in 1979. The Guardian was bought by the KM Group eight years later.

Dozens of colleagues past and present attended Barry’s leaving do in Faversham on Thursday night, where he was presented with presents and a cake in the shape of a CAPS LOCK key – in recognition of his inimitable style of writing emails.