Newsroom legend Gay Bolton celebrates 35 years with the Derbyshire Times

Derbyshire Times' journalist Gay Bolton is today celebrating 35 years with the title.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th Mar 2018, 08:55 BST
Updated 7th Mar 2018, 10:10 BST
Gay Bolton.Gay Bolton.
Gay Bolton.

Gay, who started at the DT in 1983, is marking the special occasion with colleagues.

The newsroom legend began as a senior reporter before rising through the ranks to become a sub-editor and entertainments editor.

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She now works as part of the community content team and writes the weekly Places and Faces column which sees her visiting people, organisations and community groups across Derbyshire to tell their stories.

Gay used to write the DT's Number 1 column.Gay used to write the DT's Number 1 column.
Gay used to write the DT's Number 1 column.

Gay, of Chesterfield, said: "When I started I was one of the youngest in the editorial office - now I'm the oldest!"

Here Gay - who is regarded as the 'mother' of the newsroom - answers five questions on her milestone day...

1. What's the biggest change you've seen in the industry over the years?

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The shift from hot metal composition to typewriters and computers.

Gay at a Derbyshire Times' Band of the Year competition in years gone by.Gay at a Derbyshire Times' Band of the Year competition in years gone by.
Gay at a Derbyshire Times' Band of the Year competition in years gone by.

2. What's been a highlight of your time at the DT?

Working through the night to bring out an election special newspaper in time for breakfast tables when Tony Benn was elected Chesterfield MP in 1984. It was very exciting being at the count that night and how every editorial member worked so hard to make it happen.

3. Who's the most memorable person you’ve interviewed?

Tony Benn in the run-up to the election. He was so easy to talk to, even though I was up against his agent brandishing a stopwatch and counting down how many minutes I had left to talk to him during my hour-long slot.

Gay used to write the DT's Number 1 column.Gay used to write the DT's Number 1 column.
Gay used to write the DT's Number 1 column.

4. What are the best things about being a journalist?

Meeting people, feeling you're making a difference to their lives and the day-to-day variety of work.

5. What would be your advice to budding journalists?

Send reports, comment pieces, photos and anything which will get you noticed to your local newspaper, get a good qualification under your belt and work hard at your shorthand.

Related topics:DerbyshireChesterfield