Simon Bradshaw, left, edited The Argus for seven years until 2005 when he joined London's Evening Standard as a sub-editor.

This week he took over from George Tuckfield as editor of the 12,000-circulation Henley Standard, one of the few remaining privately-owned weeklies in the country.

Asked why he decided to make the move away from London, Simon said simply: "It's a great opportunity - super paper, great town, lovely people."

Simon, 49, has worked for five other evening newspapers in England and Scotland and was executive editor of the Daily Record, then Scotland's biggest selling daily newspaper. In the mid-Eighties, he spent a year as publicity officer for BBC Radio 2.

He has been married to Julie for 24 years and has a son, Jack, 16. He curently lives in Burgess Hill, West Sussex.

Said Simon: "I am delighted to be taking over at such a successful newspaper and have been made very welcome by everyone at Higgs Group.

"I am looking forward to continuing the development of the Standard and www.henleystandard.co.uk."

Meanwhile, friends and colleagues packed into Henley's Leander Club last Thursday to mark the retirement of George Tuckfield, who has stepped down as editor after 18 years.

Higgs Group managing director Neil Ratcliffe described him as "a professional newspaper man, a strong leader, someone calm under pressure and, importantly for me, a safe pair of hands."

Submitting Information

Click here to have your say on this story