A regional newspaper editor has published a book of opinions, anecdotes and memoirs from his time in the industry.

Chichester Observer boss Keith Newbery publishes ‘Hacking It': Tales of a Very Provincial Newspaper Journalist next week.

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

He said: “In conversation with friends and colleagues over the years they’ve always said ‘get something down on paper’.

“I always said I would so I finally got down to work on it.

“A lot of people who read it will recognise some of the characters in journalism.”

The result chronicles Keith’s career in provincial newspapers, and is packed full of anecdotes from his time spent as a local newspaper journalist.

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 has been founder-editor of the Isle of Wight Weekly Post and associate editor of the Portsmouth News.

In Hacking It he recalls the couple who fought over the custody of their son – because neither of them wanted him.

And he asks what the naked body of the dead admiral was doing on the kitchen table? Who was the daytime TV presenter who made a photographer whimper? What effect did exposure to the Isle of Wight’s three pop festivals have on a young hack from the sticks?

And why did Lord Mountbatten show one of Keith’s cuttings to the Queen and Prince Philip – and what was their reaction?

The book will be published on November 11 by Portman Publishing at £12.99.