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Press duo begin and end their careers together

Two local press legends from the south coast are retiring today – 44 years and two months after they started work on the same day.

Southern Daily Echo photographer Malcolm Nethersole and Duncan Eaton, chief reporter at the Southampton title’s Eastleigh district office, both joined the paper in May 1965 as copy boys.

Malcolm (below) is beginning his retirement with a Mediterranean cruise while Duncan will be spending time in Scotland with his family.

During his career, Malcolm travelled to the Falklands Islands to cover local troops during the war and photographed Southampton FC in two FA Cup finals.

He said: “I’m not going to stop take pictures and will do a bit of freelance work.

“I’m going to miss the guys more than anything but I definitely won’t miss standing outside a wet courthouse and running around after fire engines.

“I’ve done my fair share of that and now I’ll be doing things on my own terms.

“I just feel like I’ve run out of a bit of steam and everything has to come to an end. I want to have a bit of a life while I have some vitality left.”

Duncan, pictured below with Strictly Come Dancing’s Anton du Beke, recalls a huge political story in 1994, after a local MP died in the course of a bizarre sex act, as one of the most significant he covered.

“One of the biggest stories was the death of MP Stephen Milligan,” he told HTFP.

“We had the whole of Fleet Street descend on Eastleigh and I did a live link up with GMTV, as a sort of man on the ground.

“We also had a couple of plane crashes at Southampton Airport – in one a pilot flew out of the windscreen.

“He’d just landed at Eastleigh and was on the nose of the plane with the cabin staff holding onto his ankles, naked as all his clothes had blown off.”

He added: “It’s quite rare these days to come across that length of service. It’s a unique thing.”

Duncan now plans to finish a long-running book project about dead 60s pop star Heinz Burt, a native to Hampshire, who played bass with The Tornados.

He also intends to use contacts made over the years to interview musicians and do freelance writing.

Daily Echo reporter James Maden paid his own tribute: “Duncan is famed for his video work in recent years, taking part in the Full Monty at one point.

“He didn’t go the whole hog but, as the cameraman, it was one of the most hilarious things I’ve seen in my two years at the Echo.

“He also enjoyed a class of tai chi at the over 50’s festival and his classic puns are known across Southampton.

“Malcolm has been here so long that, at our new premises, we have a montage of pictures from over the years and Malcolm has his place on there, stood on top of an old Echo van taking a picture.

“They are living legends in the newsroom and their loyalty to the newspaper will probably never be matched again.

“They have seen so much over the years and, as a junior, they have helped me no end with advice and guidance when I’ve needed it.

“They are utter heroes to everyone who does or has worked here in the last 44 years and will be sadly missed.”

Comments

Sue (31/07/2009 08:41:21)
Worked with Malcolm at the Southern Daily Echo – when it was the Evening Echo.
We had a blast working on features and have many fond memories.
He was always enthusiastic and brought a quiet talent and professionalism to the job.
T
Wish you well in retirement.

Hilary Jones (31/07/2009 11:00:39)
Cruised with Malcolm on a press trip two years ago – only man in a party with five women! He seems to have caught the cruise bug. Lovely man – have a happy retirement and keep snapping!

Adam Postans (05/08/2009 12:40:16)
Two of the nicest guys you’re ever likely to meet. I worked with both at the Echo from 99 to 01. Malcolm took the pix at my wedding and had such a great time (what with that daft Millionaire quiz and the three-tiered pizza we had made) that he waived his fee. All the best in your retirement, fellas.