History of the Bucks Free Press

From one Perrin to another: How I was inspired to become a journalist

History of the Bucks Free Press

From one Perrin to another: How my grandad inspired me to become a journalist

These girls are dancing round the Maypole in the Market Place, Princes Risborough, 1935

These girls are dancing round the Maypole in the Market Place, Princes Risborough, 1935

Chalfont Saint Peter

Celebrations: Looking back at dancing around the Maypole

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BFP_24/05/2019_47_Page leader BFP04994_am

History of the Bucks Free Press

1

Looking back at Handy Cross - before it turned into this

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BFP_12/04/2019_41_Page leader BFP64028

History of the Bucks Free Press

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PICTURES: When the Queen visited High Wycombe for the first time

In 1934, when she was just 14-years-old, Marjorie Priest joined the binding department of the BFP's printing works

In 1934, when she was just 14-years-old, Marjorie Priest joined the binding department of the BFP's printing works

History of the Bucks Free Press

‘We ran for our lives if someone dropped some heavy type in case the ceiling came down’

We are searching for old employees from all departments to get back in touch

We are searching for old employees from all departments to get back in touch

History of the Bucks Free Press

Calling all ex-employees

We have been looking for readers or old employees with memories of our history

We have been looking for readers or old employees with memories of our history

History of the Bucks Free Press

Celebrating 150 years of newspapers

The purpose-built offices at Loudwater Mill, Station Road

The purpose-built offices at Loudwater Mill, Station Road

History of the Bucks Free Press

2005 Bucks Free Press makes the move

Little Market House

Little Market House

History of the Bucks Free Press

Printing took place in town centre

History of the Bucks Free Press

Do you have Bucks Free Press memories?

William Butler, founder of the Bucks Free Press

William Butler, founder of the Bucks Free Press

History of the Bucks Free Press

William Butler founded BFP in 1856

A delivery of paper in the 1860s.

A delivery of paper in the 1860s.

History of the Bucks Free Press

Paper was delivered by horse and cart in the 1860s

An editorial conference

An editorial conference

History of the Bucks Free Press

How the news is treated is decided in daily editorial conferences

A reporter at work

A reporter at work

History of the Bucks Free Press

Our reporters either cover a patch or specialise

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History of the Bucks Free Press

More than 100 staff work at our Gomm Road site

Editor Steve Cohen

Editor Steve Cohen

History of the Bucks Free Press

Current editor took over in 1994

The paper is cut on the press

The paper is cut on the press

History of the Bucks Free Press

For colour pages, four plates were needed

The paper is folded on the press

The paper is folded on the press

History of the Bucks Free Press

Paper runs over a reversed image on a rubber blanket

A metal plate in production

A metal plate in production

History of the Bucks Free Press

The negatives were used to make metal plates for the press

A compositor sticks the separate stories, pictures and

A compositor sticks the separate stories, pictures and

History of the Bucks Free Press

By the 1980s type was set on screen

The press at Gomm Road in the 1970s

The press at Gomm Road in the 1970s

History of the Bucks Free Press

Midweek launched in 1968

Our Gomm Road offices

Our Gomm Road offices

History of the Bucks Free Press

Gomm Road factory opened in 1956

History of the Bucks Free Press

Papers were snatched from the press mid-run for checking

Pages being cut on metal conveyor belts

Pages being cut on metal conveyor belts

History of the Bucks Free Press

Ink rollers ran over the plates while the paper raced through

The press is ready to roll in 1937

The press is ready to roll in 1937

History of the Bucks Free Press

Pages were paired up on the press

A proof is checked for corrections

A proof is checked for corrections

History of the Bucks Free Press

The metal pages would be read using a wet piece of paper

Compositor Frank Watson adds the final lines of type to a page

Compositor Frank Watson adds the final lines of type to a page

History of the Bucks Free Press

Compositors had a seven-year apprenticeship

A compositor makes an advert by placing lines of metal type in a frame, or chase.

A compositor makes an advert by placing lines of metal type in a frame, or chase.

History of the Bucks Free Press

Lines of metal type were placed in a frame

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History of the Bucks Free Press

In 1938 a much faster press was installed

William Hollins

William Hollins

History of the Bucks Free Press

William Hollins became editor in 1919

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History of the Bucks Free Press

Paper changed name during First World War

Thomas Harsant Butler

Thomas Harsant Butler

History of the Bucks Free Press

Thomas Butler became editor in 1885

History of the Bucks Free Press

Single sheets were hand-fed into the printer in the 1850s

A production employee merges the stories and adverts together on-screen to complete a page

A production employee merges the stories and adverts together on-screen to complete a page

History of the Bucks Free Press

Adverts are added to complete the paper

A sub-editor at work

A sub-editor at work

History of the Bucks Free Press

Sub-editors design and check the pages

The Bucks Free Press newsroom

The Bucks Free Press newsroom

History of the Bucks Free Press

The newsroom works to daily deadlines

A photographer at work

A photographer at work

History of the Bucks Free Press

Photographers mostly use digital cameras

The BFP costs just 40p

The BFP costs just 40p

History of the Bucks Free Press

The papers reach the newsagents early on Friday morning

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History of the Bucks Free Press

Printing was contracted out in 1990

History of the Bucks Free Press

New editor Tim Blott takes over

A film negative of a page is inspected

A film negative of a page is inspected

History of the Bucks Free Press

A process camera produced full-size negatives of the page

History of the Bucks Free Press

Bill Tilley became editor in 1976

History of the Bucks Free Press

Arthur Church became editor in 1956

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History of the Bucks Free Press

The paper was modernised in the mid-1950s

A metal plate is prepared for the printing press

A metal plate is prepared for the printing press

History of the Bucks Free Press

Metal plates were made for the press

On the left of the picture a flong is being placed in a casting box ready for moulding a metal plate. On the right, a moulded printing plate is inspected.

On the left of the picture a flong is being placed in a casting box ready for moulding a metal plate. On the right, a moulded printing plate is inspected.

History of the Bucks Free Press

Paper moulds were used in the production process

Typesetters at work

Typesetters at work

History of the Bucks Free Press

Typesetters retyped articles to create lines of metal lettering

A worker using a Linotype machine in 1937

A worker using a Linotype machine in 1937

History of the Bucks Free Press

A Linotype machine enabled type to be set mechanically

he front of the BFP's High Street offices in 1937

he front of the BFP's High Street offices in 1937

History of the Bucks Free Press

The BFP used to have a high street shop

W.H. Whittles - Fourth Editor

W.H. Whittles - Fourth Editor

History of the Bucks Free Press

Whittles and Baldwin

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History of the Bucks Free Press

A rotary press was installed in 1924

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