NEWS of our move to new offices has brought back memories for a former apprentice at the Post who went on to become Regional Daily News Journalist of the Year.

Colin Gregory writes:

Reading about your move from the old offices of the Cornish and Devon Post reminded me of starting work in that imposing but rather bleak building almost 60 years ago and the good times I had there which led to meeting interesting people in various parts of Britain and the wider world.

As a 16-year-old schoolboy I was offered an apprenticeship in journalism after winning the English prize at Launceston College which had been offered by the editor at that time, Arthur Venning.

It was September, 1962, when I walked into the editorial office for the first time. I was met by a blue haze as every journalist smoked in those days,  and was greeted by Mr Venning himself, chief reporter Barrie Cowling, sub-editor Douglas Allen who had come back to Cornwall after a distinguished career in Fleet Street, and veteran sports editor Bill Haste.

As an apprentice I had to sign an indenture which, among other restrictions, such as “willingly obey the lawful commands of the employer” stipulated that I “shall not gamble with cards or dice or play at unlawful games or frequent taverns.”

My starting wage was £6 5s a week, enough to enjoy a good social life in those days. I must confess that taverns were hard to resist and were the place I found many of my best stories in later years.

The linotype printers occupied the top floor of the Western Buildings, while the ancient printing press downstairs sounded like a steam train in motion as it rolled out the various editions on Thursdays.

The first task I was given was to compose a wedding report from the details provided on a form given to couples tying the knot. Every detail was recorded — what the bride and bridesmaids wore, the page boy, the occupations of the bride and groom and the presents they exchanged, where they spent their honeymoon...

My first real scoop came in the first edition of 1963 following the Beeching cuts when I travelled on what was supposed to be the last train from Launceston to Plymouth and back. It was a night that saw a huge snowstorm and, as the train travelled through the tiny stations at villages like Coryton, the mountain of white flakes began to get higher than the carriages. I was travelling with Mike “Chico” Davey, who is still a Launceston resident, and we had to sleep in our carriage at Tavistock station. The next morning our plight was on national news as the Civil Defence which existed at the time tried to dig us out. We were then put up in a schoolroom in Tavistock before a taxi was hired, at double the normal costs, to get us home through the tricky ice.

The editor was delighted with the story and I got expenses for the train journey and my share of the taxi — 90p in today’s money.

There was very little crime in Launceston at that time, but the police prosecuted misdemeanours which would be laughed at today. I remember one local man being prosecuted for not having a rear light on his bicycle.

His poetic defence was classic. “The night was dark and stormy, PC Parkin wasn’t blind, I had a light in front all right, but nort’all (nothing) back behind.” Fined five shillings.

I had great times in that building, and my fellow young journalist John Hambly and I used to be great pals with the printers. I remember Brian “Romper” Martin, Andy Hill, Roger Lane, who died recently, and many others. In the summer we would all pile into a car and head to a beach together.

It was a great start to a life which, after I left in 1967, took me to so many other places, with the majority of my time spent on the Western Morning News and freelancing for the national dailies. I met so many interesting figures, interviewing every Prime Minister from Harold Wilson to David Cameron, including three long sessions with Mrs Thatcher, Muhammud Ali in Nassau before his Drama in Bahama fight, lunch with the Duke of Edinburgh in France, walking under the sea deep down a tin mine with the Queen and a host of others which brought me two honours — the Regional Daily News Journalist of the Year and the Regional Daily Feature Writer of the Year. The range of people I have interviewed has been wide, from an Archbishop of Canterbury to model Jordan, Katie Price, who I accompanied on a drinks promotion — no chance to avoid taverns on that job!

But it all started in a smoky room in Western Buildings, opposite what was the police station and Tottles music shop.

I want to write  more about life in a country town in the 1960s — I think we had more fun and entertainment than anyone in a city, and I would love to hear from anyone who remembers me to reminisce over old times. I am on [email protected] or 01872 275353.

My best wishes to everyone associated with the dear old Cornish and Devon Post — and I hope you have as interesting and rewarding a time as I did.