We Love The News - 'Newspaper deliveries are a lifeline'

They live in Monckton Road, Gosport, and they have their newspaper delivered to their door from independent newsagents Dash and Cox in Stoke Road.

Not only did the newsagents deliver Rowena and John Bradfield’s newspaper, it also stepped up throughout lockdown to make sure its customers had all of their essentials, offering to run errands and ensuring nobody felt lonely.

Tracey-Lee, 45, said: ‘They were fantastic. They really went above and beyond, helping people out. It is a brilliant newsagents.’

Tracey-Lee, who grew up in Gosport, said she has been a reader of The News for years, and that it helps her keep up to date with her home town, even though she now splits her time between her home in France and Stenning.

She said: ‘Communities need good local area news and this area does it very well. Local newspapers have a very important role to play. They keep everyone up to date and they give people a place to vent, and to allow others to learn about what other people may be going through.’

SEE ALSO: 'Vital for community spirit' - more reasons We Love The News

For local newsagent Tony Cox, who has run Dash and Cox Newsagents for 30 years after he took over from his father, Nigel, delivering papers is just one part of running a successful community hub.

The shop first opened in 1956, started by Tony’s grandfather Tom. Today, Tony caters for most people’s needs from cigarettes, groceries, sweets, alcohol, snacks, cakes, magazines, soft drinks and more

He employs 10 paper girls and boys who deliver more than 310 newspapers to homes across Gosport every day.

The 52-year-old said: ‘During lockdown we were just doing what we usually do, we kept delivering the papers and made sure that everyone had what they needed.

‘It was what we do everyday and it pays the bills, service like that is why we are still here after so many years.

‘We get on with our work and we have some fun doing it. Our staff are all hardworking, they don’t mind going out and helping people.

‘The News is a good paper, it's great that it's still going so strong. It keeps people informed about what's going in their local area, and of course at Portsmouth Football Club.’

We Love The News

The News has launched its We Love The News campaign to share some of the ways that our newspaper has touched the lives of our readers.

Whether that’s by being featured, or promoting a good cause, or uncovering some wrongdoing, or just simply landing on your doormat every day, there are many ways in which The News plays a part in our readers’ lives.

We hope to celebrate these stories - and by doing so remind everyone why buying a newspaper is such a wonderful thing to do.

If you would like to be featured, and shine a light on the ways The News has helped you, your cause, charity, campaign, or business, email [email protected]

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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