LONG-SERVING journalist Bill Browne has retired as editor of the Basingstoke Gazette.

As well as the Gazette Mr Browne edited weekly papers in Romsey, Andover, Winchester and Salisbury. He has been replaced by Kimberley Barber.

Mr Browne said: "Regional journalism has been in my veins since leaving college. I feel honoured to have started in a time when the hot metal presses were still rolling and to have been part the many changes that have taken place since that time.

"This is a business that opens up doors where you sometimes least expect. So in my time I have met prime ministers, pop stars and ordinary people who have done remarkable things.

"Most vivid among them was a former soldier who was preparing for an ultra-marathon in North America's Death Valley despite losing part of all limbs after stepping on an IED in Afghanistan.

"My biggest mistake as a journalist was asking the former Prime Minister Edward Heath who he thought might replace Margaret Thatcher when she was under pressure from her fellow MPs. He said nothing, but just turned away and left.

"Perhaps the most shocking was to be Editor-in-Chief of the Salisbury Journal at the time of the Salisbury spy poisoning. We had pass through a checkpoint every day for several weeks with police forensically examining a homeless hostel less than 50 yards from our office.

"But there are many things I am proud of. They include the people we have brought into the business and trained, the stories that have made a difference to people's wellbeing and the many charities we have supported.

"When I was on the newsdesk on the Daily Echo we launched the Wessex Heartbeat Appeal as part of an initiative by the then editor Pat Fleming. I can only wonder about the number of lives that may have been saved or improved as a result of the backing we gave to the appeal.

"Perhaps the most bizarre story we broke was the arrival of the President Obama's motorcade at Stonehenge when he surprised everyone on a journey back from a Nato conference.

"We were able to run pictures within seconds of his arrival thanks to close liaison with our Amercan sister title USA Today, who had members of the press pool among the photographers.

He added: "Having every role there is in editorial really has been a privilege. That's why I am now offering my services to give journalism career workshops for pupils (who are aspiring reporters) in secondary schools. If any schools are interested they can look me up on LinkedIn."