Local Lynx No. 150 - June/July 2023

editing, advertising sales, distribution, proof reading, and ad
design).
So when in issue no.10 in January 2000 the Lynx
reported a positive response to its appeal, noting that
“clearly the paper is valued, and with the help, both
financial and in kind, that has been forthcoming, has a good
future”, it was correct. After that early wobble, the Lynx has
been on firm financial footing ever since.
As well as countless volunteer hours, much of that has to
do with the steadfast support of its advertisers. An advert in
the Lynx makes clear business sense, reaching all the
households in the benefice and an ever-increasing number
of readers online. Lynx advertisers are undoubtedly loyal
but none more so than reflexologist Philippa Stancomb
whose ad first appeared in issue no.3, November 1998, and
whose last, on her retirement, was in October 2022, 24 years
and 143 issues later.
The distinctive look and feel of the Lynx, its mixture of
advertising and editorial, general news and village-specific
content, was established under the artistic eye of Bob Brandt
and from issue no.13 (July 2000) onwards is very much
recognisable as the same title today. Production methods
have definitely moved on from the scissors and paste days
of cutting up and laying out pages, but, with minor
modifications, the ‘Lynx look’ remains.
By the 50th issue in 2006 the Lynx was facing new
challenges, though practical rather than financial and largely
brought on by its success. To produce the paper regularly to
the high standards it had set became increasingly time
consuming and mention was made of “the long-term
problem of sharing the editorship… so that it is no longer
dependent in the final stages of preparation on the activities
of a very few people”.
An open meeting was held in Langham in January 2007
for anyone with an interest in the Lynx, with the intention of
creating a second editorial team to produce the title on an
alternate basis, thus relieving the pressure all round. A
development committee led by Anthony Smith was formed,
and by the end of the year the production team had been
widened to the extent that Bob was able to report “that no
one individual now faces up to three weeks of unremitting
toil every two months” to get an issue produced.
Two years later, what colloquially became know as the
Morston team was formed (alongside the Langham team) to
produce alternate issues under the editorship of Roberta
Hamond supported by Susie Harrison. The intention was
that this should appear seamless to readers who should see
no production differences between issues, a goal achieved
after a few teething problems!
Having ensured the future of the Local Lynx was in safe
hands, Bob and Helen were able to retire from active
involvement in 2013, in the knowledge that without their
unstinting efforts the paper would almost certainly not have
survived.
But survive it does, notching up first 100 editions in
February 2015 and now 150, eight years later. All of these
are available online and provide an entertaining read to dip
into at random, but are probably even more valuable as a
significant genealogical and local history resource for our 10
villages.
The Local Lynx remains wholly dependent on the
goodwill of its volunteers, advertisers and readers which
should never, of course, be taken for granted. But there
seems every likelihood it will endure for at least the next 50,
100 or even 150 issues. RM
The Langham Primary School Christmas cover for L105 Dec/
Jan 2015-16. See more drawings at www.locallynx.co.uk.
L129 Dec/Jan 2019-20
Bob Brandt’s Spot the Difference for the young at heart at
Christmas.
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