Chichester Observer boss Keith Newbery (right) is now an MBE.

He was awarded the honour for services to journalism.

He has spent his entire working life in journalism, beginning as a junior reporter on the now defunct Isle of Wight Times in his hometown of Ryde in the mid-sixties, and is now executive editor of the Observer series of newspapers in Chichester, West Sussex.

In between he was the founder-editor of the Isle of Wight Weekly Post and associate editor of the Portsmouth News.

As well as gaining wide experience in many fields over the past 35 years, he also previously won many national awards for his articles on television, sport and politics.

More recently, he re-lived his career in his autobiographical book of memoirs and anecdotes, ‘Hacking It': Tales of a Very Provincial Newspaper Journalist.

Yorkshire Evening Post columnist John Thorpe was also awarded the MBE.

He is the first Evening Post journalist to be named on the honours list while still working, and admitted to colleagues that when he received a letter informing him that he was being put forward for an award he thought someone was pulling his leg.

John, (58), joined the paper in 1970, and was recognised for services to journalism, as well as his fundraising for charity.

He said: “All I’ve done is to try and put something back into society so that causes I consider worthy reap some benefit.”

The Dorset Echo’s Portland correspondent Hilda Swinney (right) has also been made an MBE in the birthday honours for services to journalism and charity.

Hilda, (75), has worked for the paper since 1978, and said she was totally stunned by the news.

She said: “I couldn’t take it in. Getting an honour from the Queen is something that never in my life has entered my head. Whatever I have done to deserve the award has been because I loved doing so.

“It has been absolutely awful keeping this a secret, and I cannot wait to tell my sons.

“I nearly blurted out the news last week when they called up and asked me if I had any interesting news.”

A photographer from the Belfast Telegraph will also be collecting an MBE – for his services to photographic journalism.

Roy Smyth, (62), joined the paper when he was 15 and is due to retire this summer. He has won many awards for his work over the years and has covered many key moments in Northern Ireland’s history.

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail [email protected]