The main difference was that the editor and reporters occupied a small room on the ground floor.

I approached my interview with Harold Holker with some trepidation – but I soon realised he had decided to give me the job when, instead of asking me questions, he started to list the long hours I would be required to work and then said I would be paid 30 shillings a week, plus half-a-crown allowance to maintain my bicycle.

One of my duties in the winter was to light the fire in the small editorial office. I was not very good at this and in the end Mr Holker accepted that he would have to tend the fire himself.

I was fascinated by a bright orange streak on Mr Holker's head, which I soon discovered was the result of him running his tobacco-stained fingers through his white hair.

Janet Hollingsworth, in addition to her duties as reporter, also wrote the Aunt Jane children's column. The chief reporter was Geoffrey Brown.

When he left to become editor of another paper, we speculated about who would be acting editor when Mr Holker went on holiday. All our ambitions were thwarted when we found that when he was away Sam Pring took charge of us as well as performing his usual duties in the printing works.

One result of cycling round the district was that I was as fit as I have ever been when I joined the Royal Air Force for my National Service in 1953.