3 days Ago
A bestselling author, political leaders, a music legend, football boss and a former TV 'Dragon' have all wished The Argus a happy 145th birthday. When our paper launched in 1880, it was one of the first evening newspapers in the country to be sold for one halfpenny and pigeons brought in news from the far corners of Sussex. While pigeons have been replaced by emails, the founding principle remains the same: sharing stories that matter to our readers.
As a 16-page supplement is published in today's paper to mark the milestone, the great and the good have shared their well wishes for the paper. Bella Sankey, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said: "Congratulations on an incredible milestone. 145 years? Wow; so much to be proud of.
"I grew up reading The Argus when I was a child and it was the first newspaper that I ever read and it's how I started to learn about our amazing city of Brighton and Hove and about the wider world. "You are much loved and treasured by residents for your brilliant coverage." Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim, also sent his congratulations.
He said: "Long time reader, first time birthday wisher, but since it is your 145th birthday, I feel compelled to send you my wishes. "Keep up the good work and may you continue for as long as my arm." Sarah Willingham, the new owner of the i360 and a former Dragon on BBC show Dragon's Den, said: "Congratulations.
You're such an enormous part of our community and a big thank you from everybody at the i360." MP Siân Berry added: "For 145 years, The Argus has been reporting on everything from the opening of the Open Market to the Eurovision Song Contest to the creation of the city of Brighton and Hove and the election of the first Green MP. "Long may their work continue.
Happy birthday." Crime writer Peter James has a particularly close connection with the paper. He said: "My first holiday job, at the age of 16, way back in the 1960s was at the Argus, working as a general dogsbody.
"And it was the start of a lifetime love of this great newspaper. "To be celebrating its 145th anniversary is a truly monumental achievement and a testament to all the people, past and present, who have worked on it or simply contributed to it. "It is vital we support our local papers - because they not just inform us, accurately, of all that is going on within our communities, it is they and only they that can help hold all the vital organisations on which we depend, from the police to local government, to account.
"The Argus has done this, boldly and without prejudice, for all the time I have been reading it, and the community of Sussex is very much the richer for it. "Happy 145th Anniversary, Argus!” Albion owner Tony Bloom added: "A very happy 145th birthday to The Argus, for bringing the community of Brighton and Hove and Sussex the news, and most importantly all the sports coverage!".
