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Western Daily Press

What we have written about Western Daily Press

'I don't want to go home in the dark'

At 48 years old, features editor George Frew has been told he might not make 49.Eight months on from a diagnosis of incurable lung cancer, George, of the Western Daily Press and formerly the Oxford Mail, is peering out at

A place where sleep is for the weak

Reporter Richard Edwards, of the Western Daily Press, is in Iraq with 42 Commando Royal Marines. Here he tells of the hardships of life “on the hoof” with a fighting force. Five days ago I entered Iraq. Six days ago

Regional press staff fly to Middle East

Six regional newspapers have sent reporters to the Middle East to cover the expected conflict in Iraq. Several military units requested that their local newspaper should be positioned with them in any forthcoming conflict, including The Portsmouth News, and its

Regional newspapers' war correspondents prepare to fly

Nine editorial staff from the regional press will travel to the Gulf with the Ministry of Defence in the event of war breaking out with Iraq. The seven reporters and two photographers would travel as war correspondents and have been

News in brief

The Prince of Wales has commended The Blackpool Gazette for helping raise funds for the new £2.5m cancer unit at Blackpool’s Victoria Hospital. Speaking at a special reception held in Fulwood, Prince Charles urged the public to keep up the

Open-door Britain exposed by Daily Press

A Western Daily Press journalist has shown how easily illegal immigrants or terrorists could enter Britain without trace. In just four days, the paper’s investigative reporter Roger Tavener was twice smuggled into the country from France undetected, using a fishing

700 attend thanksgiving for journalist's life

A thanksgiving service for Mid Somerset Newspapers assistant editor Michael Chamberlain attracted 700 people to his parish church in Wells. There was standing room only as the Dean of Wells, police chiefs, firemen, daily newspaper editors and the whole Wells

Not quite a millionaire…

Journalist Andrew Kempley-Smith scooped £16,000 on TV’s Who Wants to be a Millionaire after correctly answering nine questions posed by host Chris Tarrant. Andrew, night news editor at the Western Daily Press, used his wide general knowledge to get far

Staff promoted at two regionals

Three new posts have been created by editor Ian Mean at the Gloucester Citizen, as he puts the finishing touches to his senior team. News editor Matt Holmes has been promoted to head of content and becomes the paper’s number

Newspaper Conference elects new chairman

Brendan Carlin, political editor of the Yorkshire Post, has been elected as the chairman of the Newspaper Conference for 2003. He will preside over the Conference which represents London editors and political correspondents of regional newspapers which are members of

Editor to stand down after 15 years

Edward Riley, editor of the Halifax Evening Courier for the past 15 years, is to stand down. The 61-year-old has said that after more than 40 years in local journalism he has decided to take life a little easier. His

Illness brings out the strength in George

Features editor George Frew is facing up to life with inoperable lung cancer. Instead of buckling under the news, George, of the Western Daily Press, has grown in stature in spite of the incredible blow. Despite starting chemotherapy treatment, he

Editor signs off after 17 years

Pat Randall has officially left the Bristol Observer after 17 years as editor. He was taken ill in January and had been doing much of his work from home before deciding to retire. Pat joined the paper in 1985 from

News in brief

Legendary political journalist Chris Moncrieff is to join the Western Daily Press as a columnist.He will give readers an insight into life in the corridors of power.Awarded the CBE in the 1989 New Year’s Honours for services to Parliamentary journalism,

Motor neurone disease claims life of journalist at 38

Former Western Daily Press sports journalist Phil Such has died at the age of 38, losing his battle with motor neurone disease. He worked on the Daily Press between 1988 and 1998 and after leaving the paper, went to work

Get me to the church on time!

A Western Daily Press journalist had an anxious wait at the altar – when his fiancée’s hired car broke down on the way to church. Past experiences of fast-approaching deadlines in the newsroom paled into insignificance as Matt Childe’s nerves