AddThis SmartLayers

Editor quits after 13 years for regeneration role

A weekly editor who first joined his paper straight from school is leaving to take up a business regeneration role after 13 years in charge.

Ken Duncan, who joined the Buchan Observer as a 16-year-old in 1989, is taking up a managerial position with Peterhead Projects, a development trust which aims to improve and promote the Aberdeenshire town.

The 41-year-old has now handed over to his long-serving deputy, Morag Kuc, who was already at the paper when Ken joined as a trainee.

Morag, who returned to the paper in 1999 after a seven year break, will also take over Ken’s role at the helm of sister titles the Fraserburgh Herald, Ellon Times and Inverurie Herald.

New editor Morag Kuc, left, with predecessor Ken Duncan

Said Morag: “I first met Ken when we took him on as a young trainee in 1989. I left to have my daughter in 1992 and joined the Fraserburgh Herald for seven years then returned to the Buchanie in 1999.

“Ken headed to Ayr as editor of several free titles down there, before returning in 2001 and we’ve been inseparable ever since.

“It’ll be like losing my right arm – it will be strange not doing the crossword with him, not making his coffee, and not listening to his ranting! However, I wish him all the very best in his new career and he’ll be right around the corner, so it’s not like the office has seen the last of him.

“Looking forward, I’ve got an excellent team of reporters across all titles who I have no doubt will continue our good work.

Added Ken: “Morag has been a fundamental driving force behind the Buchan Observer ever since I arrived in the office straight from school in 1989. We have worked together through the good times and the more difficult spells, but our commitment to providing strong local news coverage has never wavered.

“I have no doubt Morag, aided by our editorial teams, will take all the titles on to great things in the years to come.”

When Ken and Morag first joined the paper it was owned by family firm Scrogies and based at Chapel Street, Buchan.

Now under the ownership of Johnston Press, Ken and Morag oversaw the paper’s switch to tabloid format in 2004 and move to its current premises on Seagate.

Speaking about his new role, Ken said: “This is a hugely-exciting time for Peterhead as a whole including Aberdeenshire Council’s regeneration plans and I am looking forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

“If I could hope for one thing in my new role it would be for the community to come on-board and advise me of what activities it wants its local development trust to be getting involved in.”