Journal photographer Colin Lyne is now retired and living with his wife Irene in North Yorkshire. He was a familiar figure at events, covering everything from the Bent and Bongs Beer Bash to the closure of the last Leigh pits in 1992.
THE days at Leigh were great. A good laugh, in and out of the office, meeting with people from all walks of life.
The Journal set me up as a celebrity while Sven Goran Erikkson was managing the England team from 2000.
A piece in the Journal, about me looking like Sven, launched me on a mini TV and film career. My 15 minutes worth of fame lasted seven years!
Everybody knew me as Sven in the town. The local police chief one day asked: “What is your name, I have always known you as Sven?”
Photography changed from the ‘wet’ darkroom to digital and helped tremendously with the paper’s publication. It was all in a day’s work for the Journal.
It was a privilege to have spent time on the paper. Congratulations on attaining 140 years.
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