A veteran journalist has received a long-service award from colleagues after notching up 40 years with a single newspaper.

Steve Taylor joined the Mid-Devon Advertiser series on 18 March, 1974 as chief reporter and has remained with the title ever since, including a stint as acting editor in 2002.

Now chief sub-editor, Steve also edits the Tindle-owned paper’s sister titles the Dawlish Gazette and Teignmouth News

He recently received the traditional long-service award of a clock presented by colleagues – but shows no sign of retiring just yet despite a battle with cancer which kept him off work for a year.

Originally from Worcestershire, Steve entered journalism on leaving school and began his career with the Redditch Indicator.

Among the stories he covered were the 1982 Newton Abbot town centre explosion, the flooding of the 1970s which resulted in the construction of the Holbeam Dam and a major fire at the former Ingsdon convent, then a boys’ school.

Said Steve:  “It’s been 40 years of fascinating change in the newsroom and while there will always be the bread and butter material to deal with, the journalist knows the next big headline is just around the corner.

“It has been an exciting time, particularly as we have introduced several new editions in recent years, and long may it continue.’

Editor Ruth Davey said:  “Steve’s vast experience has proved invaluable on more occasions than I can remember.  He is a professional to the very core and I can’t imagine the newsroom without him.”

Managing director Sandra Perraton added: “Having Steve with us for all these years has really helped as very little happens in the area without him knowing about it.

“He’s not the only colleague who’s been here for some time either. In fact the 25 people who work at the Advertiser have between them more than 320 years’ experience of putting newspapers together.

“In a time of rapid change that gives us a stability and maturity which ensures our readers are getting a product they know can be trusted.”