Home Sweet Home? Gainsborough

Life in Gainsborough in 1966 as seen through the eyes of a young local reporter.

This documentary charts Lorraine Barnes, a 21-year newspaper reporter, as she chases stories and outlines her aspirations for Gainsborough. In the Gainsborough News office, several journalists are feverishly typing, and the printing press is in full flow. The narrator notes that in the small town "newspapers take on a role of special significance. Life revolves around the newspaper." Lorraine Barnes types as her editor is on the phone. Barnes cycles to the local food market. She notes down "Alf" the greengrocer's and the fishmonger's produce prices. Barnes acknowledges the local council are doing their best to improve the town, but has been far too slow in doing so. Over shots of a power station and a fishing port, the narrator notes that Gainsborough is prospering, despite its reputation as a dreary, red-bricked town. Back home in the evening, the young journalist has a heated debate with her father, himself a local councillor, over the state of Gainsborough's amenities for teenagers and young people. Lorraine's enthusiasm for her town and supporting young people contrasts with her father's conservative views. Surrounded by dignitaries and facing a small crowd, celebrity farmer and actor Ted Moult opens a show home. Interviewed by Barnes he wryly admits that he only does these public events for money. Intercut with shots of home cooking and DIY, Barnes bemoans the price of rates in Gainsborough, stating it's almost impossible for a young married couple to get a council house.

Featured Buildings

All Saints Church, Gainsborough;

Keywords

Towns; Local newspapers; Gainsborough News; Journalism; River Trent

Background Information

The Gainsborough News was a weekly tabloid distributed to homes in the Lincolnshire town of Gainsborough and in surrounding parts of West Lindsey (including the nearby town of Kirton in Lindsey) and bordering parts of Bassetlaw across the River Trent in north-eastern Nottinghamshire. Founded in 1855 as the Retford, Worksop, Isle of Axholme and Gainsborough News; it didn’t become the Gainsborough News until 1968. From 1877 to 1988 it was a twice-weekly publication on Tuesdays and Fridays; the Friday edition was then redubbed the Gainsborough Standard while the Tuesday edition continued as the Gainsborough News. 10 years later the News became a freesheet. In 2002 the day of publication changed to Friday and the Standard shifted to Thursdays. It was published by South Yorkshire Newspapers (part of the Johnston Press nationwide group of regional newspapers). It shared editorial offices with the Standard and had a web presence through the Standard‘s website. It came out on Fridays. It ceased publication in 2012. René Cutforth (6 February 1909 - 1 April 1984) was a British journalist, television and radio broadcaster and writer. "Focus On" was an Anglia Television series 1965 - 1966 looking at towns across the Anglia broadcasting region.