Malcolm Richards, thought to be the longest serving regional newspaper editor in England, is preparing to retire.

He has spent the past 27 years in the editor’s chair at the Richmond & Twickenham Times.

Malcolm, (65), is a member of the old-school of journalism – and proud of it – although he claims he never really wanted to be a journalist.

His first love was acting, and after leaving school at 16 as an “11+ failure”, he tried, and failed, to get into a Bristol theatre school.

Despite pleas from his parents to get a “proper job”, he joined the Bridgwater Repertory company, where the other actors included Kenneth Williams. But after four months it closed, leaving Malcolm depressed and wondering what to do next.

His first break into journalism came when he won an apprenticeship as a reporter on the Bridgwater Mercury, where he spent five happy years.

But his yearning for theatre led to a move to London in search of fame and fortune while taking a ‘temporary’ job with the family-run Dimbleby Newspaper Group, owners of the Richmond & Twickenham Times.

And 15 years later he was still with the group as chief reporter on the paper’s Chiswick edition.

“By this time I was thinking maybe I was destined to stay,” said Malcolm.

“And when David Dimbleby told me to apply for the editor’s job, I did.”

He became editor of the Richmond & Twickenham Times in 1976 and was welcomed into the Dimbleby family.

In the years that followed he saw the group expand and launch new titles, and more recently be bought up by the Newsquest group.

Malcolm also oversaw the launch of a new free weekly, The Chiswick, last week, and is now responsible for six paid-for titles and three frees.

But despite the changes, he feels the Richmond & Twickenham Times has seen very little editorial change.

He said: “Traditionally, the paper is very thorough. Some might say long-winded.

“But local newspapers are all about the little things in life – births, marriages, deaths.

“You can read what is happening to Pete Townshend in the national papers, but you’ll only be able to read about how many local public toilets are closing in the Richmond & Twickenham Times.

“My philosophy is that everyone wants to read about their neighbours. We’re about chronicling and documenting, not putting a slant on things.

“If you examined the basic content of the newspaper 130 years ago, it is still the same.”

However, things won’t be the same at the paper after April 25 – Malcolm’s last day.

He said: “I’ve felt very privileged to edit the paper. I am lucky to have worked for a family that cared passionately about newspapers, and I have also had two very happy years with Newsquest.

“I’ve eaten at all the best tables, been invited to Parliament more times that I’ve had hot dinners and met a lot of interesting people.

“I’ve also been able to hand pick my staff and so am surrounded by friends, but it is time to go while I am still winning.”