AddThis SmartLayers

Newspaper goes sepia as it marks 7,000th edition

A Scottish weekly newspaper has celebrated its 7,000th edition with a sepia-toned commemorative publication.

Since it was first published in 1877, the Largs & Millport Weekly News has had just five editors, two of which were in the first year.

Its current editor Drew Cochrane is believed to be Britain’s longest serving editor after 38 years in the hot seat.

Drew, 60, has now overseen both the 6,000th and 7,000th editions of the title – but admits he’s not planning to be in the chair for the 8,000th.

Said Drew: “I noticed earlier this year that we were approaching a milestone 7,000th issue and we have taken the opportunity to tell, not only the story of the newspaper, but, indeed, a chronological history of our part of Ayrshire in terms of headlines and old pictures down the decades.

“It covers the wars, royal and prime ministerial visits, storms, floods, tragedies and the day the Glasgow train crashed through the station and ended up in Largs Main Street.”

Drew and his two reporters Calum Corral and David Walker produced a bumper 56-page edition which included Drew’s world exclusive interview with £161m Euro lottery winners Colin and Chris Weir, who are from Largs.

Added Drew: “When I edited the 6,000th edition in 1992 I wrote that it would be a gift to be editing the 7,000th. This time round I’ve asked for an invitation to the 8,000th celebration.”