Staff at Reach Plc titles across the South West have said a fond farewell to the former editor of The Herald and Western Morning News who has left the company after 25 years.
Bill Martin, who latterly became the South’s marketplace publisher for Reach Plc, parent of Business Live and Plymouth Live, has left the company following a 35-year career in journalism.
He began as a trainee reporter on the Tiverton Gazette before working for other titles including the Exeter Express & Echo and as a freelance in London for the nationals.
He joined the Evening Herald, as it was then called, as news editor in 1997 and was later promoted to deputy editor and editor. He took on the editor’s role at the Western Morning News before becoming editor-in-chief of both newspapers and finally publisher of all Reach Plc’s titles in the South of England.
Bill also saw the transition of both his newspapers into the digital age with the launch of websites including Plymouth Live, Cornwall Live and Devon Live.
Lloyd Embley, editor in chief of Reach Plc, said: “Bill Martin has had an outstanding career with our company, holding several editorships in the South West, and is one of the most respected figures in regional journalism in the UK.
"Bill has played a leading role in developing many journalistic careers. We wish him all the best for the future, and thank him for his immense contribution to the business.”
Mr Martin said: “After more than 32 years in this game I’m leaving with a tinge of sadness and a lot of excitement for the future. I have loved my time in the regional press, particularly being part of and leading teams in the South West, and even in some very tough times the spirit and resilience of those teams has been remarkable.
“Editing the Plymouth Herald and the Western Morning News was an absolute privilege, very exciting and most of all fun. Subsequently being part of the transformation of the business and our newsrooms, and watching so many new and talented people grow, has been hugely rewarding.
“I shall miss all of the people I have been lucky enough to work with, but work has been pretty much my entire life for more than 30 years, and I have always known there are other things that I want to do. Now I want to have a go at some of those before I get too old.
“I leave with the regional press at last in a period of renaissance and I look forward to watching that continue from the top of mountains, the middle of cricket pitches and the odd bar.”
As well as being an outstanding journalist and editor, Mr Martin has been a champion of the communities his newspapers serve, and a passionate campaigner for Plymouth and the South West.
During his time with The Herald he led a campaign to protect the future of Devonport dockyard and launched the Back The South West campaign for the Western Morning News. Both titles won numerous awards and accolades under his leadership.
The Herald’s current editor Clare Ainsworth said: “Bill is an exceptional editor who leads his staff through the most difficult and challenging news events. He is always calm, always a brilliant journalist and always a campaigner.
“In his years on both The Herald and Morning News he’s seen both triumph and tragedy and had to handle all manner of difficult stories - with great sensitivity.
"From the heart breaking events at Little Teds nursery to the more recent horrific events in Keyham, Bill has supported his staff to produce comprehensive yet considered and sensitive coverage of big news stories.”
Philip Bowern, editor of the Western Morning News, added: “Working with Bill Martin was a huge privilege. He really cared about journalism but he really cared about the people he worked with too. We are going to miss him.”
Adrian Vinken, the recently retired chief executive of Theatre Royal Plymouth said Mr Martin would be a hard act to follow, and said: "Bill has been such a major player in Plymouth and the entire West Country for such a long time. I would not like to be the person who has to succeed you.”
