The 13th editor of a Midlands weekly is leaving the title after 13 years in charge.

Peter Aengenheister, left, will spend his last day in the newsroom today after taking voluntary redundancy as part of a wider restructure in the Midlands by parent company Johnston Press.

Now the 55-year-old is embarking on a new chapter in his life and career with plans to publish two books.

Peter, who was editor of the Daventry Express prior to joining the Advertiser, told HTFP: “When I realised that redundancy was happening I applied for voluntary which the company accepted.

“This means I have about a year’s grace to sort out the other projects I want to do. It’s a great opportunity and I’m really looking forward to it.

“I have got two fictional books that I am hoping to get published so I will be working on that.

“I’ve also been doing some neuro-linguistic programming which is life coaching and looking at the way people manage their potential.

“I’ve been on a course about NLP as I quite like the idea of working with it.”

Johnston Press is in the final stages of creating three central subbing hubs in Northampton – which includes the Rugby titles – Peterborough and Milton Keynes for its newspapers in the Midlands and Anglia.

As a result of the shake-up the paid-for Rugby Advertiser, sister freesheet the Rugby Review and the monthly RA Magazine will now come under current Daventry Express editor Chris Lillington.

In this week’s edition Peter will be using his regular page two column to tell readers about him leaving and the next stage for the paper.

Both the Advertiser and the Express will have their own content editors with Chris having overall responsibility.

Comments

Anthony (30/04/2009 16:17:46)
I spent 16 years working in the UK regional press, but left 10 years ago and am now working in media elsewhere in the world.
So, mine is an educated outsider’s perspective.
When will major publishing groups realise that the knowledge and experience of people like this, is of immense value?
Of course, every newsroom needs a variety of experience and perspectives, but time and again I have seen situations in the regional press spin out of control when an older, wiser head would have controlled things.
I know it isn’t fashionable, and perhaps it reflects my own advance towards middle age, but often, you DO need time-served people, those who have seen much of what life has to throw at us, at senior levels.
I can’t think of many industries that would have, so willingly, let so much insight and knowledge drain away in the last couple of years.