WE had a really good turnout at our meeting on Thursday 26 March which began with club announcements and news of members. We were then treated to the history of Fleet Street by our Secretary, Clive Allen.

Clive reminded us that freedom has always been central to the story of the media, Government and unions right from the earliest days. The introduction of the printing press enabled the written word to be widely circulated and we learned that Daniel Defoe, author of Treasure Island, became known as the father of journalism. Broadsheets were used because Stamp Duty was levied irrespective of the size of the newsprint and although the first pamphlet was printed in Fleet Street, London in 1500, the first newspapers as we know them didn’t appear until the 18th century.

Clive talked us through the rise of the Tatler and Spectator, followed by the Times, Daily Telegraph, and the Daily Mail and Express. Throughout this period there was constant conflict between the press, Government and the unions. These differences continued throughout the first and second world wars culminating in the moves, principally by Eddy Shah and Rupert Murdoch, to reduce over-manning and improve profitability in the 1970s and 80s.

Clive concluded with thoughts about the future of newspapers, including the possibility of free papers, satellite printing and of course the Internet, and counselled that freedom of speech has to be used responsibly. President Brian Melville thanked Clive, congratulating him on his extensive research on this very topical subject.

On 2 April Alan Rampley will present Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway and then on 9 April, Ken Ingamells will talk about Shackleton’s Fateful Journey.

CHRIS DONOUGh