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In the mid-to-late 19th Century, every town across England had its own newspaper.Diss was no exception. But, unlike the majority of other towns in Norfolk, Diss still has its own publication, still produced in the heart of the town centre by its own team of reporters and sub-editors under a Diss-based editor.The Diss Express and Norfolk and Suffolk Journal started life as a penny paper on November 4, 1864. It was founded by Edward Abbott, a bookseller and printer, of Mere Street ­– just a couple of hundred yards away from where it is now based.The new paper included a mixture of national and international news and its owner was delighted when more than 600 copies were sold in two hours after going to press.The very first issue of the Diss Express appeared, blasted into orbit by a preliminary handbill – a highly descriptive, class conscious, typically Victorian piece of advertising.The paper was to be published, residents were told, “to supply a long felt want in the important and rising town of Diss, opening up a channel whereby the wants, wishes, and opinions of the inhabitants be made known”.In addition to local affairs, the paper was said to contain “Parliamentary and Political Intelligence” and readers were assured that the progress of the American Civil Ware would be accurately and continuously recorded.The Proprietor was determined that the paper should attempt to be all things to all people, and to that end it was said to be “equally adapted to the mansion and the cottage”.Publication was at 3pm each Friday and the paper was on sale in the Corn Hall on Friday afternoons, priced at One Penny.When Mr Abbott died, the paper was carried on by his two daughters, Mrs Bell and Miss Abbott.In 1925 the paper went on the market and the Diss Publishing Company came into being.The editor was S. G. House, who was in charge of the paper for about 60 years.Harold Holker took over as editor in 1928 and stayed in charge for 28 years.The Express was first printed on a small handpress but it soon grew from its original four pages.Over the years the paper changed a lot but always served up a rich diet of news for its readers.In its first year there was a report on the annual Stock and Pleasure Fair at Fair Green. The reporter “rejoiced at the absence of penny gaffs, sparring booths and similar, demoralising affairs” but “drunkenness was prevalent and in the early part of the evening there might be seen the sad spectacle of old and young men scarcely able to walk.”The 50th anniversary of the Diss Express saw the country fighting the Second World War. The front page carried a John Bull advertisement calling for volunteers and print rationing saw the paper reduced in size to eight smaller-sized pages during the hostilities.At the beginning of 1971 the Express had 16 pages and in October 1973 the first 40-page issue emerged. Since then it has gone on to reach 80-page issues with an 'audience' now close to 20,000.The Diss Express is now part of Johnston Press, one of largest newspaper groups in the country, but still maintains its base in the town.Editors have included: S.G. House, Harold Holker, Kay Hunter, Ron Hunt, Amanda Hatfield, Nicola Brown and Steven Penny.