'Vital for community spirit' - more reasons We Love The News
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His interest in keeping up with local news was spurred by his job as a politics and public affairs teacher, which saw him teach thousands of students across the south coast at Highbury College, Portsmouth university, Southampton Solent University, in Bournemouth and Poole.
Now retired, David, 74, still subscribes to The News, having the paper delivered to his home in Wallington each day – and he says he appreciates the vital role the newspaper still holds in the community.
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Hide AdDavid said: ‘Local newspapers have two key roles. One is to promote the spirit of local community and that’s vital so that people have a feeling of belonging. Secondly they have a democratic role, holding local government to account, again a very important role.’
David said that as well as reading the news reports, in particular reports from The News’ Local Democracy Reporter Fiona Callingham, whose role is sponsored by the BBC in order to promote scrutiny of Portsmouth City Council, he also enjoys the lighter side of the newspaper such as the human interest stories, the puzzle pages and the reader letters.
He said: ‘They let people express their views. The letters page is great as it lets people voice their views and encourages local debate.’
Original from Peterborough, David moved to Alverstoke in 1971, a year later marrying the love of his life Shirley and then shortly after moving to Fareham.
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Hide AdThey have two children, and three grandchildren. David is an active member of his local community – and is currently part of Wallington Village Community Association.
He has previously appeared in The News to promote his community work, as well as his charity work for the Fareham Mascular Support Group.
He encouraged people to keep buying The News.
He said: ‘It would be a detriment to the local community – and its spirit – to lose The News.
‘It would be dangerous as far as local democracy is concerned. There would be nobody there to hold anybody to account.
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Hide Ad‘With blogs or social media, you don’t know that person's background, their hidden agenda or whether you can trust them, local newspapers don’t have that agenda, they are impartial, and that's very important.’