250 years ago, the editor wrote the following in the first-ever edition of the Hampshire Chronicle:  

“The editor of the paper presents his respects to the editor of the Salisbury Journal is much obliged to him for the very polite and unsolicited manner in which he has advertised the Hampshire Chronicle and also for exercising his friendly and good will in pointing out those weight particulars which may be applied to his success.

"At the same time takes this method of declaring to the public at large, the important objections which the Salisbury editor raised to this publication (as well as other objections which may hereafter be urged) shall be obviated by an unwearied attention to those material points of recommendation – great candour and integrity.”  

I find it only fitting that after nine months of editing the Hampshire Chronicle, and a mere 250 years after those words were published, that my remit has been extended.  

Earlier this month, I took on the role of editor at the Salisbury Journal and its smaller title the Forest Journal. They join the Hampshire Chronicle, Romsey Advertiser, Basingstoke Gazette and Andover Advertiser in my stable. 

When I joined in December, my predecessor Bill Browne, who previously looked after all six titles, retired soon after. His role was broken up and I took on the Hampshire weeklies.  

Since then, it’s been great to build two teams – one in Winchester and one in Basingstoke – and to help the titles to work together, meaning we can report on local matters with greater efficiency than ever before.  

We use the reporters’ time wisely, often sharing stories or ideas, and all pitch in to help the other titles when needed.  

I must have made the job look easy, and it was a compliment when I was asked to take on the Salisbury Journal too. 

Over the past few months, I have often spoken to the acting editor of the Salisbury Journal Andy Martin for advice.

He’s had a long career in journalism and certainly knows his way round a local newspaper. In fact, I could almost have written the same words as the 1772 editor. Funny how history has a way of repeating itself.  

Talking of the first edition, it was a joy to see. 

Last month I had chance to pour over the first edition when I took a trip up to the Hampshire Record Office in Sussex Street ahead of our 250th anniversary celebrations.  

The Record Office is a wonderful place, and if you have any interest in local history, you definitely should visit. We are very lucky to have it in Winchester.  

As well as a full archive of the Hampshire Chronicle, up until around 2009, you can find other titles too such as the Romsey Advertiser and the Basingstoke Gazette, and all the other Hampshire titles that have come and gone over the years. 

The record office is run by the council and is free to visit. The staff there are wonderfully helpful.  

On my visit it was a shame to hear that the record office used to receive its copies of the Hampshire Chronicle from the library, however that arrangement stopped for whatever reason and there now is a ‘black hole’ in the Chronicle's archives.  

Our historian Barry Shurlock has been looking into the gap and is passionate about filling it to ensure the Hampshire Chronicle continues to be correctly archived and catalogued for future generations.  

He said that now from 1772 to 2009 (or perhaps to June 2010) the Chronicle is on microfilm in HRO. 

After that, unbound, unscanned hard copies to July 2015 are held by HRO. 

Then the archive stops. Everything moves digital, and while we have digital versions of those pages, the physical editions are seemingly not in existence.

There are a few copies of recent editions at the Chronicle office right now, but only for the past few months. They are not kept anywhere else within our company.  

Barry said: “If there are still any gaps, no doubt these could be filled: I know of at least one person who has a collection of hard copies from the last seven to 10 years!  There may be others.”  

So, before we embark on our mission to plug this gap, I throw the question to you – how best to fill it? Are there any avid Chronicle readers with a neatly organised collection of Hampshire Chronicles from 2015 to 2022? Please do get in touch.