Staff at the Whitby Gazette have waved farewell to friend and colleague Don Wood, who has retired after 50 years with the weekly paper.

Don, (65), joined the Whitby title when he was just 15, working in the printing office, and has since held various positions at the paper, leaving as assistant editor.

He is also the third generation of the Wood family to work for the Gazette – his grandfather Alec joined the paper around 1900, and his father Tom joined in 1928 – also completing 50 years service.

After a year in the printing office, Don (pictured) moved to editorial after being chosen for a job as a junior reporter by editor Tom Barker.

He spent four years in this role before being called up for National Service and returned to the paper in 1961, working under Tom Barker and then William Slater.

Don later worked as a sub-editor before his appointment as deputy editor in 1980, a position he held for 20 years until 2000 when the Tuesday Whitby Gazette was launched and he became assistant editor and sports editor.

Don said: “I have worked under seven editors all told, with Hilary Chapman taking over when Les Heath moved to the Scarborough office, followed by Ed Asquith, now the group’s editorial director at Scarborough, Phil Pledger and now Damian Holmes.

“I started as errand boy but never quite made it to be the editor.”

To mark Don’s retirement, current and former colleagues gathered to give him a riotous send off at the Board Inn in Whitby.

He was presented with brushes and easels for his plans to take up oil painting, an engraved watch, and a specially prepared front and back page.

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