I didn’t do a paper round but used to working a the newsagents in Albany Park in the late 70s/80s. It was at the time when there was the News of the World, Mirror and People on Sundays. I’d never seen these sorts of papers before and loved all the smut.
It's been a long time coming. I feel sorry for the workers, but not much else. It's been a rag for donkey's years. You'd never guess from reading the Standard that Charlton was a London club. And there was little in the way of compassion when they bought out and scrapped (or 'incorporated' as they called it) the superior Evening News. For years I'd take a copy just to line the rabbit cage. Ooh, there's someone else I feel sorry for the poor rabbits that were expected read it.
First experience of the standard was when I took over the Saturday round, which I collected by the water trough in the village, dropped off by the van. I delivered to the flats in Springfield. Used to go to the top by the lift bang on 3 doors on each floor of every block, then wait about 15 seconds. Took about 80 minutes then would take the money to the paper seller (woman) at the top of Victoria way. It was good money, which I spent at the fox under the hill, on a Saturday night with the slightly older lads from the estate, then often went to either the Roxy at the Royal Standard, or Woolwich going to the Odeon, if we had a car to take us, I was about 17 studying my 'A' levels .
2 years later I was working as a very junior court reporter in the High court before I went to art college in a gap year. The Standard in Shoe Lane I visited twice a day, with the stories, wrote a couple of small stories, one being about Georgie Fame, who was involved in a divorce.It had a very old fashioned news room, I used to go to the editors desk, in those days you just walked in off the street, never questioned, I did the Sun, Mirror, Express, and Mail, before going home. Never worked as a designer on the Standard, but worked on several newspapers while Fleet Street was a newspaper centre, namely the FT, and The Telegraph, which had just moved into docklands. The pubs were a big part of the culture of Fleet Street, very few women were working on the newspapers, except reception, and a few journalists, when I left the magazine world in 2010, most of the people were woman, and the age was much much younger.
Yes, I did read the Standard, on the train, frankly it always seemed a bit old fashioned and not my particular read, the editorial, and tone not my interest, the magazine in later years was much better, and well designed in my opinion.
Stopped buying any daily papers in about 2000, the Metro was free, but then not a great read either. Picked up a copy when it was free, when I went to London.
Like local newspapers, sadly they have had their day, never bought a subscription on line.
With 24 hour world wide news, internet and social media, 'the news' is old before it is printed, you need to have opinion, and features, trouble is the feature writers become stale, and repetitive, having guest editors, such as sportspeople, celebs, actors etc for the features was interesting, even if you did not agree with their views.
Yes, a very different world from one in which at work (unless you had a radio on) you would have NO idea what had happened that day, whether the Test Match score, football transfer news or the Budget.
Now everyone has the world at their fingertips on their phone (and work computer), even in many London Underground tunnels.
I used to be an avid reading of the latest edition on the way home from work. I couldn’t bear not having the paper to read. But the paper declined once it went a freebie. Furthermore, the glossy Friday magazine was appalling to read…Looked like some really interesting topics but once I started reading it I found it was just a load of jumbled up words saying nothing…All fur coat and no knickers. I’ve not read the ES for many years now although I did recently flicked through and edition and thought no more than toilet paper.🥸
Moving to a weekly paper, begin phasing out Monday and Friday prints from next month.
Used to be such a feature working in the city in the 90s the cries of ‘Staaaaaaandad’ when leaving work.
I used to love reading newspapers. Never read them now.
I’m the same. Used to like newspapers, rarely read one now. Can recall leaving the Valley in the 50s after a match with papers on sale outside with the half time scores in.
I can remember this old fella at the Standard yelling to the world the availability of the latest edition of the Evening News, impossible to understand what he was trying to tell us.
Moving to a weekly paper, begin phasing out Monday and Friday prints from next month.
Used to be such a feature working in the city in the 90s the cries of ‘Staaaaaaandad’ when leaving work.
I used to love reading newspapers. Never read them now.
I’m the same. Used to like newspapers, rarely read one now. Can recall leaving the Valley in the 50s after a match with papers on sale outside with the half time scores in.
I can remember this old fella at the Standard yelling to the world the availability of the latest edition of the Evening News, impossible to understand what he was trying to tell us.
Standard said Charlton Athletic should be allowed to die in 1984 and when Powell was picked to play for England had a headline of "Chris Who?".
Refused to read it ever since, even when it was free.
Charlton coverage was generally appalling anyway.
In fairness, they also produced a special free poster given away with copies of the paper, of Chris Powell Charlton and England after he made his debut
I'm still a 7 day a week newspaper man but we are literally a dying breed. Still get them delivered through the door. When I moved here 26 years ago the newsagent had 12 different rounds done by 12 different paperboys/girls, now there is 1.
My round was out of Blackheath station, the far end of Blackheath Park and Morden Road.
Perhaps we should start a thread about paper rounds...😀.
I was a paper boy from 1980 to 1983. Worked from the newsagents on the corner of Dartford road & Baldwyns Park. My 1st round was the Joydens Road estate, then Baldwyns Park (rd) and then Cold Blow.
Golfie, I worked in that same Baldwyns Park shop from 1984 to 1985. I was in the 6th form at Wilmington Grammar and cycled there for a 6am start. Marked all the round up and then went to school. Earned just enough to go to football. Remember being terrified of the Bexley patients walking around the heath when I cycled there in the dark across Dartford Heath.
Surely you mean Dartford Tech for boys, or had it already changed by then.
I did a paper round from the family run newsagent at Lessnes Park. I did Woolwich Road SE2 and the flats opposite the Catholic Girls school, where Kate Bush attended.
Back in the early 70's I used to leave my place of work in Royal Mint Street, walk across Tower Bridge and down Tooley St, the newspaper vendors shouting Ev'ning Staaaaandard and News, but I didn't buy until I got to London Bridge stn, to make sure I got the latest edition! Jumped on a crowded train to New Eltham and started reading the paper from the sports pages first. When I got home I used to give the paper to my old man. I don't think I've bought any newspaper since mid 90's. I also remember the 'pink' Saturday evening edition that came out with the classified results, I used to walk round from my house to the newsagents on Avery Hill Rd, nr Sparrows Lane and queue up outside waiting for the van to pull up and the sliding door open as a couple of bundles of 'pink' papers were chucked out in the general direction of the shop. I look back on those days with happy memories and to be honest I miss them! It's sad to see the demise of 'print', but that's progress for you I suppose. I wonder how much longer morning papers will continue?
I only remember the Pink as a Northern paper. We would get on train in Sheffield or Manchester or wherever up north, and when you got Birmingham or the like it was for sale on platform. An had all the final scores and reports up to half time. No mobile phones then.
I only remember the Pink as a Northern paper. We would get on train in Sheffield or Manchester or wherever up north, and when you got Birmingham or the like it was for sale on platform. An had all the final scores and reports up to half time. No mobile phones then.
Pink 'un or Green 'un...depending on which away venue you'd been to.
I only remember the Pink as a Northern paper. We would get on train in Sheffield or Manchester or wherever up north, and when you got Birmingham or the like it was for sale on platform. An had all the final scores and reports up to half time. No mobile phones then.
Pink 'un or Green 'un...depending on which away venue you'd been to.
Light blue, appropriately, in Cambridge. Was always amazed how quickly they produced the Saturday evening paper, complete with full-time scores and full match report, generally about an hour.
The London equivalent was never as good...basic match report on Charlton as we jostled for space with 10+ other teams, and not much else
I only remember the Pink as a Northern paper. We would get on train in Sheffield or Manchester or wherever up north, and when you got Birmingham or the like it was for sale on platform. An had all the final scores and reports up to half time. No mobile phones then.
Pink 'un or Green 'un...depending on which away venue you'd been to.
Light blue, appropriately, in Cambridge. Was always amazed how quickly they produced the Saturday evening paper, complete with full-time scores and full match report, generally about an hour.
The London equivalent was never as good...basic match report on Charlton as we jostled
Had a paper round in the 80's. Used to deliver to Lennie Lawrences house, remember reading his shoot and match magazines on the wall before delivering them, then nick a bottle of his milk and orange juice. Stopped doing that after the St Andrews play off win as a thanks.
I only remember the Pink as a Northern paper. We would get on train in Sheffield or Manchester or wherever up north, and when you got Birmingham or the like it was for sale on platform. An had all the final scores and reports up to half time. No mobile phones then.
Pink 'un or Green 'un...depending on which away venue you'd been to.
Light blue, appropriately, in Cambridge. Was always amazed how quickly they produced the Saturday evening paper, complete with full-time scores and full match report, generally about an hour.
The London equivalent was never as good...basic match report on Charlton as we jostled
Buying the northern editions of the sunday papers at Charing Cross on a saturday night. Used to be able to get them from about 11pm, and the Sunday Times doesn't come on the app till midnight, and they talk about progress....
Back in the early 70's I used to leave my place of work in Royal Mint Street, walk across Tower Bridge and down Tooley St, the newspaper vendors shouting Ev'ning Staaaaandard and News, but I didn't buy until I got to London Bridge stn, to make sure I got the latest edition! Jumped on a crowded train to New Eltham and started reading the paper from the sports pages first. When I got home I used to give the paper to my old man. I don't think I've bought any newspaper since mid 90's. I also remember the 'pink' Saturday evening edition that came out with the classified results, I used to walk round from my house to the newsagents on Avery Hill Rd, nr Sparrows Lane and queue up outside waiting for the van to pull up and the sliding door open as a couple of bundles of 'pink' papers were chucked out in the general direction of the shop. I look back on those days with happy memories and to be honest I miss them! It's sad to see the demise of 'print', but that's progress for you I suppose. I wonder how much longer morning papers will continue?
As a concert goer in my 20s after moving to London in 86 I used to like scanning the entertainment pages and finding out what was on. Then phone the box office or go to the venue to buy a ticket, even for the massive names (Springsteen at Wembley, Dire straits at Earls Court spring to mind). These days it’s utter carnage. If you’re not online and get a ticket in the first two minutes for a small mortgage you’re screwed. Likewise used to wake up on a Saturday morning. Have breakfast with my mates and look through the fixtures in the paper before deciding which game to rock up to and pay a fiver to get in (I got the Charlton bug in 92!!). Changed days indeed.
Comments
2 years later I was working as a very junior court reporter in the High court before I went to art college in a gap year. The Standard in Shoe Lane I visited twice a day, with the stories, wrote a couple of small stories, one being about Georgie Fame, who was involved in a divorce.It had a very old fashioned news room, I used to go to the editors desk, in those days you just walked in off the street, never questioned, I did the Sun, Mirror, Express, and Mail, before going home. Never worked as a designer on the Standard, but worked on several newspapers while Fleet Street was a newspaper centre, namely the FT, and The Telegraph, which had just moved into docklands. The pubs were a big part of the culture of Fleet Street, very few women were working on the newspapers, except reception, and a few journalists, when I left the magazine world in 2010, most of the people were woman, and the age was much much younger.
Yes, I did read the Standard, on the train, frankly it always seemed a bit old fashioned and not my particular read, the editorial, and tone not my interest, the magazine in later years was much better, and well designed in my opinion.
Stopped buying any daily papers in about 2000, the Metro was free, but then not a great read either. Picked up a copy when it was free, when I went to London.
Like local newspapers, sadly they have had their day, never bought a subscription on line.
With 24 hour world wide news, internet and social media, 'the news' is old before it is printed, you need to have opinion, and features, trouble is the feature writers become stale, and repetitive, having guest editors, such as sportspeople, celebs, actors etc for the features was interesting, even if you did not agree with their views.
Now everyone has the world at their fingertips on their phone (and work computer), even in many London Underground tunnels.
The Evening who?
Fuck em.
I can remember this old fella at the Standard yelling to the world the availability of the latest edition of the Evening News, impossible to understand what he was trying to tell us.
Jumped on a crowded train to New Eltham and started reading the paper from the sports pages first.
When I got home I used to give the paper to my old man.
I don't think I've bought any newspaper since mid 90's.
I also remember the 'pink' Saturday evening edition that came out with the classified results, I used to walk round from my house to the newsagents on Avery Hill Rd, nr Sparrows Lane and queue up outside waiting for the van to pull up and the sliding door open as a couple of bundles of 'pink' papers were chucked out in the general direction of the shop.
I look back on those days with happy memories and to be honest I miss them!
It's sad to see the demise of 'print', but that's progress for you I suppose.
I wonder how much longer morning papers will continue?
Then the papers merged and that was the end of that....which was another very tiny bit of London colour gone forever.
The London equivalent was never as good...basic match report on Charlton as we jostled for space with 10+ other teams, and not much else