May 2025 website edition

The Clarion is 20 years old this month and with that big birthday comes a new title, combining our presence with that of the Rock and District News, Peter Bill, owner of that neighbouring title when the Clarion first emerged was himself quite new to the business and kindly offered advice. We each had our own ideas of what was needed and went on our own ways in pursuit of our quite seperate businesses.

We have remained friendly rivals to this day and Peter has offered to provide news from his part of the world after opting for what I hope will be restful retirement; he's earned it.

I look forward to making new contacts and learning the best routes through the district as we distribute the free copies of this magazine. I thought we had some testing hills in Shropshire, but the blend of steep gradients and very narrow lanes around Rock are another attractive lesson to learn.

WE'VE GROWN A LOT IN 20 YEARS

When the Clarion first emerged 20 years ago it was a step into the relative unknown. I had been editing the Cleobury Bulletin, owned by the Parish Council, and was one of four councillors who resigned because we did not like the way the running of the town was going. I was backed by a number of friends who helped to pay the Clarion print bill at its launch and there was a strong sign of support when advertising income repaid all my backers in the first month. The Cleobury Bulletin has long gone and the Clarion, that little upstart, is printing over 1,000 copies a month. The print bill has grown with it, but the simple fact of life is that you, the reader, want it and we will deliver to more collection points from now on so that our Rock readers can easily collect their copies.

The support by so many enthusiastic contributors is the reason for our growth. Too many to name here, they will be invited to a birthday party. There the ladies will be greeted with a glass of Prosecco or another white wine, while the men will be offered a pint of Uncle Jim's Ale, another success story as Hobsons have supported us.

I want to thank everyone who has helped this baby grow so strongly. My family have backed me all the way and recently my lady love Tina Hobin has added her energy to the gang. The lady has a great deal of charm and enthusiasm and we work and play hard together. We will be distributing the Cleobury and Rock Clarion on the first or second day of the month, as that task means driving at least 75 miles around Worcestershire and Shropshire and if the weather is bad we may run out of time.

Our black Clarion shirts will become familiar over a bigger area as we spread the local news and get to meet our readers. Tina and I look forward to that.

Jim Reynolds