Santa visits the Ipswich Star offices to put editor Liz Nice on the naughty list (though most other staff were considered 'nice' we're pleased to say) (Image: Lucy Taylor)
Santa visits the Ipswich Star offices to put editor Liz Nice on the naughty list (though most other staff were considered 'nice' we're pleased to say) (Image: Lucy Taylor)
Christmas is a busy time in our newspaper office. Because we publish a paper on Christmas Eve and on Boxing Day, there isn’t much rest for the wicked (which we’re not really as our regular readers know very well).
We do get a sort of day off for Christmas Day, but Shikhar and Matthew are working to ensure we give you a good paper on Boxing Day and Clarissa, Shikhar, Oli and Katie will be working on Boxing Day so that we’re all set for our papers on December 27.
Ipswich Star news editor, Matthew Earth, is working to bring you the news on Christmas Day
Ipswich Star news editor, Matthew Earth, is working to bring you the news on Christmas Day
(Image: Lucy Taylor) Christmas celebrations in our office in Crown Street, Ipswich, have included a visit from Santa, who revealed which of us had made the Nice list this year and which of us were deemed Naughty. Despite my name, I was on the Naughty list again for forgetting to remind readers about our festive bingo on our front page last week. Don’t you forget that it’s a great opportunity to win cash!
There, hopefully I’ll be avoiding a piece of coal in my stocking this year after all.
We had our office Christmas meal at The Railway Tavern in Westerfield which proved a lovely venue. I hope readers have also enjoyed at least one festive feast this month with more to come.
Str reporter Tom Cann met Santa this week to thank him for all his hard work including breaking many ipswich stories and reporting on the Ipswich Town women's football team
Star reporter Tom Cann met Santa this week who thanked him for all his hard work including breaking many important Ipswich stories and reporting on the Ipswich Town women's football team
(Image: Lucy Taylor)
This year has been so busy, I can’t entirely remember anything that has happened properly. It tends to be like that in the newspaper world. You’re always living in the moment, racing from story to story, and the past becomes a blur.
Ipswich Town’s promotion to the Premier League stands out of course and I’m delighted that we have become sponsors of the club this year.
I’m also hugely grateful to all those of you who have bought or subscribed to the paper in 2024, whether you prefer to receive it in its print version or online. You help us to keep going, to support the events and achievements of our beloved community and to shine a light in dark corners when you have reached the end of the road in righting a wrong.
The Ipswich Star will be 140 years old in February 2025 and we hope to celebrate that milestone with you. We've been a part of our community for so long but we never take that for granted and we continue to do our best to help you when you need us. We have just given away £10,000 to local charities in Ipswich and the surrounding area and we will keep supporting all the good things in Ipswich, as well as stepping up to make a fuss about the other things, for as long as we are needed.
The team from Ipswich Hospital's Neonatal Unit celebrate recieving £1790 from The Ipswich Star Token collection. The money will be used towards decorating the unit and possibly a special twin cot. Pictured Katie Scipps & Lidia Fernandez with 3 week old twins Alissa & Avaia who were born at 32 weeks.
The team from Ipswich Hospital's Neonatal Unit celebrate receiving £1790 from our £10K Cash for Charities giveaway. The money will be used towards decorating the unit and possibly a special twin cot. Pictured are Katie Scripps & Lidia Fernandez with three week old twins Alissa & Avaia who were born at 32 weeks. (Image: Lucy Taylor)
A year in Ipswich is much like any other. There are tragedies, highlights, performances, football matches, school victories, people being cross with the council, the council reminding us of all the things they try to do for us. We try not to take sides but we don’t let problems hide away. Most things benefit from a bit of torchlight.
Whatever happens here, we will continue to try to cover it, fairly, honestly, accurately. I'm pleased that despite the growing costs in our business, we are going to continue to produce the Star at £1 with no price increase in January. I hope you will continue to support us and feel our work is worth your investment each day. We do our very best for you.
Happy Christmas to all our readers. I very much hope to see you all again in 2025.
If you have a story you want us to tell, happy or sad, let me know at liz.nice@newsquest.co.uk I’m always delighted to hear from you as so many of you already know,
Liz