IT was almost 35 years ago that I first laid my eyes on a copy of the Crediton Country Courier as it was called then. 

My Grandparents (sadly no longer with us) had just moved to Crediton from Rockbeare and there was a copy of the paper on the arm of the chair when we first visited them. 

I would often stay with them in their bungalow in Penton Rise and always looked forward to flicking through the pages of the Courier, there was usually a small pile of them under the coffee table.

Little did I know that many years later I would strike up a lasting relationship with the paper and I would like to take this opportunity of giving my heartfelt thanks to Alan and his team for the tremendous amount of support and publicity over the past 18 years.  

They’ve printed press releases for two Youth Theatre Groups and a professional theatre company I ran, have attended and taken pictures at local events and school visits I have been involved with, have produced features and editorial on me and my work with Entertainingly Different (one which was just a few weeks ago) and between 2013 and 2014 they even allowed me to write my own monthly arts column entitled "A View From The Front Row" - you may remember it. 

Alan even came to Exeter, especially to take pictures, when I received the keys for my first branded van. 

The paper is such an interesting, informative and entertaining read and I feel privileged to have appeared within it’s pages so many times, in fact on one occasion this happened to be three times in the same issue! 

There is a genuine warmth to the paper that echoes that of the staff when you visit their office or chat to them on the phone so it seems to be no coincidence that they have had such longevity. 

I wish the whole team hearty congratulations on this their 1,300th issue and best wishes as they move forward - long may our friendship continue.

Rob Pudner

Entertainingly Different