YOU are reading the 500th issue of the Frome Times!
The paper – one of only a handful of independent family-owned newspapers left in the country – was set up in 1998 and is delivered free to the whole of Frome.
Over 13,500 copies are distributed every fortnight making it the newspaper with by far the largest circulation in the town.
Mayor of Frome, cllr Sheila Gore, congratulated Frome Times on the milestone. She said, “Many congratulations for reaching your 500 edition birthday!
“Over the years you have become a really valuable source of information that helps the whole community keep in touch. You have always promoted positive messages and for this I am particularly grateful.
“The Frome Times faithfully reports the news, celebrates anniversaries and achievements of community groups, the council and businesses across the town.
“You know your community well and have been responsive to people’s ideas. In this way you have included features like the ‘Humans of Frome’ a wonderful way of revealing the rich mix that makes up our town. On behalf of the Town Council, thank you.”
The Frome Times title was started by David McGregor with the help of the late John Frapwell and was first published as a monthly A4 publication. The duo sold the title to Ian and Susan Drew in 1998 and the fortnightly newspaper style was introduced in line with the couple’s other two publications which cover Westbury and Melksham.
The three titles were printed in Holt on the company’s own printing press up until September last year, when all three newspapers re-launched in glorious colour, which was well received by both readers and advertisers.
The newspapers are now printed by Mortons Print who were named last year as the UK’s Newspaper Printer of the Year 2017 by industry bible, PrintWeek.
Ian Drew, who also edits the paper said, “It’s quite a milestone reaching 500 issues. It’s quite rare these days for an independent paper to survive – most papers are now owned by large national and international companies – and that’s a tribute to the dedication of our team here and the fantastic support we get from the people and businesses of Frome; without them there would be no paper.”