EARLY DAYS

Dear Editor,

Out of curiosity, I typed the words “Evington Echo” into Google. I then spent half an hour wallowing in nostalgia. The article, “ A New Arrival”, in the very first Evington Echo was written by me - Angela Plowman. 

The Evington Echo started as an innocuous leaflet pushed through the letterbox of many Evington homes. Anne Sharpe (Evington librarian) and Robert Raven (Adult Education) invited those interested in setting up a community newspaper for Evington to attend a meeting at Judgemeadow Community College . I went along and met up with Betty Best, who I knew from St Denys Church, and 3 other people. Robert and Anne were unable to attend! None of us had a clue what was involved and were all for giving up and going home. Betty thought we should give it a go and try putting something together.

Our “paste up” sessions took place on Saturdays at Wycliffe Church . Before paste up Betty and I would work out what would go on each page. She loved to fill every little space!

In February ‘84 Betty took over as sole Editor. I continued to help out at paste up for a couple of years and remained a distributor until we left Leicester in January 2002.

Since my involvement with the Echo, I've edited two newsletters; one for the charity I worked for in Leicester and the other in my present job. I produce the monthly Norwich Cathedral News.

Technological advances in the past 26 years have been immense, but I remember very fondly those days of shuffling bits of paper around until they fitted the available space.

All the very best to you and everyone who helps with the Echo.
Angela Stevenson

PS In answer to Mike Stevens' question on the website “I wonder where Joel Edward Plowman is now?” He's a pensions adviser living in Brighton!