Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#1
.. the reporters working for local papers were rooted in their community and worked in their local area for decades.
But no longer and that knowledge and experience is lost.
Two stories in today's Dover Express demonstrate this.
Terry Sutton, veteran Dover reporter, now retired and doing some freelance writing, writes an interesting article about the birth of Dover District Council. This was about a period around the time I first got involved in politics and before I myself became a member of DDC. I remember and knew the incidents and characters involved, among them Alec (not Alfred, Terry) Greenway-Stanley, Peter Bean and the great Ray Norley who was in many ways a bit of a mentor to me in those days. Memory lane....
Imagine, one day that local knowledge will be lost completely. I cannot imagine any of our current local reporters being around in Dover to write articles like that in 30 years time, assuming we even have a local paper or on-line equivalent. We will all be a lot poorer as a result.
The second article itself demonstrates how the rot has set in. There was a time when a editor, sub-editor or reporter will remember some interesting local detail that would add colour to a report. Not now.
On page 15 there is an article about my old mate David Gledhill who has received a honorary doctorate. Dave moved to Felixstowe many years ago and is currently the Chief Exec of a Port operating company. What the reporter and sub-editors did not know was that Dave was a member of DDC. He was elected alongside me for the old Barton Ward in 1983. In 1984 Dave was elected Deputy Mayor and, in Dover Town Hall, at the very moment the chain of office was placed around his neck there was a massive loud thunderclap....It was like an omen. Dave never did see out his year of office and moved to Felixstowe for personal and business reasons.... In the old days reports would have remembered that and could have made something out of it adding interest to a report.
Yes, we have certainly lost something. They do not even have an office here any more let alone true local knowledge.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#2
i am very surprised that we still have 2 local papers to cover a small town like dover.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#3
Once, in my time, there were three all with offices here, previously more than that. Now, two 'local' neither with an office here. Young, keen reporters, yes, but these days they are all looking for more and do not stay around long on a local rag, they want the nationals. Think of the turn around we have had over recent years alone.
Guest 715- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 2,438
#4
I thought you would have encouraged the young reporters to use the locals to chase the big money?
Audere est facere.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#5
ah barry you mention ray norley,mr pikles of his day,one of mr norleys daughters married my younger brother,much disgust from father who was rank labour at the time.
ray norley was a true tory in many sences,say one thing do somthing differant just to get a vote,[previous tory mp cant remember his name now].
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#6
Brian - yes, you mentioned that to me before. Ray was very consistent in his views and was a great individualist and character. You seem to confuse Tories with Libdems though - or are you just having a dig for a digs sake without thinking about it.
MartinP - you really do not know me at all.... I am all for youngsters being ambitious but still recognise what we are losing by that.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#7
barry,true story.living out river at the time.its when the voteing age was droped to 18.came out river loud speakers blaring.saying that the pirate radio ststions would be safe under the torys,just to get youngsterd votes.now where have i heard that more recently,ah yes i remember the nhs is safe under the torys./
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#8
Brian - it may well have been me on the loudspeaker as Chairman of the Young Conservatives at the time.
This was not so much about pirate radio stations but about freeing up the airwaves for competition to the BBC and more local radio.
I was involved in pirate radio myself along with Roger Frayne and, indeed it was the Conservative that freed up the airways to more radio stations during Mrs T's first term.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#9
barry,not being funny here but where you old enough to wear long trousers then circa 1969.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#10
LOL Brian - I was involved in it during the mid-late 70's!!! Different eras, but it was a fact that Mrs T freed the airwaves and opened the door to more radio channels. It was a big campaign back then.
In the late 60's it was probably Roger Frayne on the loud speaker....
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#11
ray norley has been mentioned on here in the past, cannot remember what over but it was a bit controversial at the time.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#12
Ray was a very controversial character, a real personality that are too few and far between these days. We need more like that to add some colour to local affairs.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#13
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#14
Howard #2 "i am very surprised that we still have 2 local papers to cover a small town like Dover."
We might have two papers but how much of the actual news in them is about Dover, very little last time I saw one.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
#15
In 1900 there were about six different Dover papers ! Full of news.
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
#16
And they used to be able to spell without a spellchecker !!!
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
#17
So even way back then ,you was saying something but meaning something else. #8
Why cant you tories be straight about anything?
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
#18
Sorry, that was meant for BarryW.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#19
garyc,no politioncan speak straight,only gobbaldy gook.say one thing meen another.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#20
No GaryC - in the late 1970's I was actually saying exactly what I meant.
Interesting that you feel the need to twist a thread as a dig against me yet again.
Been nice knowing you :)