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Regional daily celebrates 50 years in business

A regional daily launched 50 years ago has celebrated its golden anniversary with a special supplement.

The Colchester Daily Gazette, first published in 1970, marked the milestone with a 32-page supplement.

It featured insights from historians as well as former employees of the newspaper.

It also explores how the Gazette – now owned by Newsquest – was started by businessmen Hervey Benham and Mike Ellis 50 years ago.

Colchester 50

In a promotional piece, community content editor Matt Plummer wrote: “The supplement is a celebration of achievement and an invaluable record of life over the past 50 years in north Essex.

“For the past 50 years, The Gazette has reported on Colchester stories which have impacted the community, shocked and seen the borough’s landscape change almost beyond recognition.”

He added: “During the five decades we have reported on huge national stories, campaigned for vital improvements to the town and led battles to save our services.

“There have been countless royal visits, showstopping criminal trials and bringing your stories to the forefront.”