YOU are reading the 700th issue of Melksham Independent News!
The paper – one of only a handful of independent family-owned newspapers left in the country – was set up in 1981 and is delivered free to the whole of Melksham and the surrounding villages.
It is run by Melksham couple, Ian and Susan Drew, and is based in the Market Place. Over 13,700 copies are distributed free every fortnight making it the newspaper with by far the largest circulation in the town.
Mayor of Melksham, cllr Adrienne Westbrook, congratulated Melksham Independent News on the milestone. She said, “If you want to know what’s going on in Melksham then there is only one paper to read and that’s the Melksham Independent News.
“It is well-used by all local groups and volunteers to tell the residents of Melksham about all the amazing clubs and activities that go on in the town.
“The MIN really is the best community newspaper around. It gives the facts to everything happening in Melksham and is an invaluable resource to us at the Town Council when we wish to inform the public of what is happening in our town.
“Congratulations on reaching your 700 edition and here’s to many more!”
Melksham News, the town’s own newspaper was printed for the first time on the 2nd of April 1981 by Ian and Susan Drew. In 1992, they added a second newspaper in Westbury, White Horse News, with a third title, Frome Times, being added in 1999. The three titles were printed in Holt on the company’s own printing press up until September last year, when all three newspapers relaunched in glorious colour, which was well received by both readers and advertisers.
The newspapers are now printed by Mortons Print who were named last year as the UK’s Newspaper Printer of the Year 2017 by industry bible, PrintWeek.
Ian Drew, who also edits the paper said, “It’s quite a milestone reaching 700 issues. It’s rare these days for an independent paper to survive – most papers are now owned by large national and even international companies. Our success is a tribute to the dedication of our team here and the fantastic support we get from the people and businesses of Melksham. I’d like to thank all the businesses who have supported us over the years; without them there would be no paper.”
