An editor has used his 70th birthday to announce his retirement after more than half a century in the regional press industry.

Graham Breeze has stepped down as a partner in MyTown Media, which runs the MyWelshpool and MyNewtown news websites in Mid Wales.

Prior to launching MyTown in 2010, Graham served as editor of the Powys County Times, as well as editor in chief and publishing director of weekly titles owned by NWN Media, now part of Newsquest.

He has also edtied the Oswestry & Border Chronicle, helped to launch hyperlocal trade body the Independent Community News Network and served as chairman of the North West Guild of Editors.

Graham, pictured, told HTFP: “It’s been an absolute rollercoaster and it’s hard to believe where the time has gone but I have loved every minute of it.

“Being entrusted with an editorship is an absolute privilege and was unimaginable when I left school as a wet-behind-the-ears 16-year-old with a chip on his shoulders. Along the way many people have put a lot of faith in me and I hope I have not let them down.

“In 53 years I have met and worked with so many brilliant people, enjoyed years of prosperity in the industry and endured the worst economic crisis the newspaper world had ever seen.

“The most rewarding thing has been to see so many of the people I helped recruit develop into leading figures in the media world. It is so pleasing to see how they have developed and to still be in regular contact with so many of them.”

Graham joined the County Times as a trainee straight from school, rising through the ranks to the editor’s chair.

At NWN, He oversaw a restructuring of the company’s editorial teams and systems and led redesigns of all the weekly titles.

He later joined Midland News Association where he helped trial the company’s new Knowledge editorial system and was launch editor of the Chronicle – a free weekly launched in direct opposition to Newsquest titles in the area.

In 2010, along with two former County Times colleagues David Williams and Owain Betts, he launched MyTown Media, with MyWelshpool and MyNewtown becoming two of the first hyperlocal sites in Wales.

Six years ago Graham won a by-election to represent Welshpool as an Independent member of Powys County Council and has since been twice re-elected..

Graham added: “Being a county councillor and running a media business has presented problems of a new kind and I now feel it is time to stand aside with the MyTown Media business well established and thriving.”