Happy Birthday to the East Anglian Daily Times: 150 today!

An old boss of mine had a phrase she used to use whenever I went a little bit too far. 
“Ah, Liz, get over yourself,” she would say in her thick Dublin accent. 
I do try. 
But yesterday, at the EADT 150th anniversary party, at Fynn Valley Terrace in Witnesham, where I was surrounded by EADT faces old and new, I did have a little bit of a proud moment. 
So many people came to support us. 

Managing director, Vincent Boni, editor Liz Nice, High Sheriff Yvonne Gilchrist-Mason and former editor and current Deputy Lieutenant of Suffolk, Terry Hunt (Image: Lucy Taylor)The lovely High Sheriff of Suffolk, Yvonne Gilchrist-Mason, was there, along with my current boss, Vincent Boni, my old boss, former EADT editor, Terry Hunt and so many faces from the past including photographers Dave Kindred, Paul Nixon and Andy Abbott, who nursed me through my early days as a cub reporter and 'brought me up' in the ways of the EADT.

Paul Nixon, Dave Kindred and Andy Abbott, much loved former snappers on the EADT (Image: Lucy Taylor)We also invited readers and subscribers, advertisers and old friends. Many of my current team were also in attendance, enjoying the Prosecco (one glass only obviously) and getting a glimpse of our history, which is owned by us all. 
Everyone who was there cared about The Anglian. I wish I could have invited you all because, if you are reading this, I can be sure you are one of them. 

Terry gives his speech about the EADT's history (Image: Lucy Taylor)Sometimes, it is hard to keep going. Every day there is someone trying to knock us, dozens who need our help, forms to fill out, squabbles to resolve – and every day I collapse on the sofa after deadline at 8pm wondering how on earth I’m going to be able to get up in the morning and do it all again. 
But I do. We all do. 

Our reporters, Aby Fossett, Ben Robinson and Kaia Nicholl and our Digital Ace, Matthew Earth (Image: Lucy Taylor)We care now, just as we did then, 150 years ago on October 13, 1874, when Sir Frederick Wilson launched his new paper for our proud part of the world, promising to be politically impartial and to make the paper ‘pay’. 
This we still try to do, albeit at 100 mph, worrying about print sales, digital hits, social media engagement, subscribers and print readers and their daily concerns every minute of every day. 
A reader messaged me this week for help – he needed publicity to help his daughter get the equipment she needed to be able to walk. 
Our exchange, which took place at 10.30pm at night wasn't a scary journalist messing with a member of the public - we at the EADT aren't those kinds of journalists. It was just a chat between a worried dad and a random mum, who just happens to be a newspaper editor, understanding the need to work together for the good of a little girl. 
He apologised for bothering me. 
“Don’t worry,” I said, “we are with you.” 
That is always true. 
Every day, we are. 
Thank you for your support for all these years. Like the Suffolk punches, we promise to keep ploughing on... 

Huge thanks to Fynn Valley for a great do (Image: Fynn Valley Terrace)A lovely event
Thank you to everyone who attended on Thursday October 10 at Fynn Valley Terrace (https://fynnvalleyterrace.co.uk/) who put on a tremendous do.
Thanks for Terry Hunt, former editor and now Deputy Lieutenant of Suffolk, for his lovely speech about the EADT’s history and Martin Newell for his magnificent poem about the EADT which you can buy in our 150 years of Suffolk book online or in most newsagents. 
Thanks also to the High Sherriff, Yvonne, for your kind support and to all the Suffolk producers who supplied the goody bags given to each guest: Mauldons Brewery, James White Drinks, Two Magpies Bakery, Munchy Seeds, Pakenham Windmill and Paddy & Scotts Coffee. 

Our lovely book at Suffolk's history, as reported by the EADT, is on sale now for just £9.99 at store.newsquest.co.uk/eadt150 (Image: Liz Nice)

A great Christmas present
Anyone who loves Suffolk history, do pick up a copy of my 150 years of Suffolk book now available in newsagents and at our online shop at store.newsquest.co.uk/eadt150