Bexhill's two most dedicated journalists hit their final deadline

TWO Bexhill journalists with close to a century of newspaper experience between them have stood down from the industry this week.

John Dowling and Philip Elms have been saying their fond farewells.

John, 64, is taking early retirement after covering the community for the Bexhill Observer for nearly 48 years.

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From junior reporter to deputy editor, John has described the changing scene of Bexhill in an honest but affectionate manner during the latter half of the 20th century and beyond.

Philip, 60, has largely taken the route of production journalism over his near-45-year run.

That run ended when he declined to accept a role under a major restructuring within parent company Johnston Press.

Philip was sports editor successively of the Bexhill Observer, Sussex Express and Hastings Observer before moving back to general news as deputy editor of the Hastings Observer and group production editor of the Hastings-based Observer series.

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One of Philip's claims to fame is to have sub-edited hundreds of John Dowling stories (processing the original work and placing on the printed page with appropriate headline).

Both journalists have overlapped their professional careers with active community involvement.

John has had a finger in many pies, from Bexhill Talking Newspaper to the presidency of the League of Friends of Bexhill Hospital and the presidency of Bexhill and District Garden and Allotments Society. No wonder his colleagues call him "Mr Bexhill."

Philip has been a school governor, vice-chairman of Pebsham Community Association, founder trustee of Pebsham Sports and Social Club, and founder of Rother Theatre Company, of which he became president.

A mutual colleague said: "Newspapers move on but there is no chance John and Phil can be replaced man for man. It's very much the end of an era."

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