The Hereford Times is celebrating 170 years – and a rising circulation. To mark the anniversary, editor Liz Griffin published a series of articles to explain more about its history, staff and readers.

Read about one of the people who sells it – and find out why it’s reaching more people than ever before.

John Hyde, one of Hereford’s longest serving newsagents, may have handled more copies of The Hereford Times than any other man alive.

The 68-year-old has been selling the HT since 1955 when he started working in a newsagent in Commercial Road. Fresh out of the army it was a managerial post with a twist.

Mr Hyde said: “The owner had me cleaning shelves for four weeks to learn where everything was. Then I started as manager.”

From manager to owner, Mr Hyde started up his own shop in 1965, moved into his current premises in the Tupsley post office in 1967 and hasn’t looked back since.

“When I started, the press for the papers was on Maylord Street and the HT office was in Bridge Street.

“You used to get your hands filthy because the print used to come off.”

He remembers some of the biggest stories covered by the paper including the murder of local woman Dorothy Davies in 1977, an event that had people desperate for news.

But the HT has not just been something to be bought and sold by Mr Hyde. It is, in its own way, the local weekly bible and one that he believes people hold on to.

“It’s a reference paper. There is an awful lot going on and people don’t throw it out until the next one comes out.

“I have bought cars and houses through the paper.

“Over the years I have been connected with the Judo Club. We always advertised with the HT and always had a tremendous response.”