Adam Trimingham to leave The Argus

Adam Trimingham, 79, has been covering stories across the county for over 50 years, with his final piece for the paper published today.

He began writing in 1970 for what was then the Evening Argus, with readers recognising him as a reputable source of news, never to be influenced in his reports of events.

Adam doing his bit for the Evening Argus

Since his retirement from reporting in 2004 however, Adam has been a voice of balanced opinion via his column but pens his final piece today.

“I shall miss it, it’s been a part of my life since I’ve been in Brighton,” said Adam.

“I’m proud of what I’ve achieved, but a lot of it is just from being around a long time – I’m very pleased and very proud.”

Adam started out as a reporter for weekly papers in Fulham and Kensington in London, though never saw the attraction of Fleet Street in its heyday - instead heading for the pebbled shores of Brighton, where he found not just success, but a wife.

After five decades at The Argus, Adam is hanging up his pen

Sue and Adam met at the Evening Argus in 1974 where they worked together covering politics before becoming a couple. One sub-editor is said to have quipped that it was not exactly love at first sight.

Throughout his time at the paper, Adam gained a reputation as a pillar of the community, and could often be seen cycling to a story on his bike.

Ian Carter, who worked with Adam at The Argus, said via Twitter that he “built up trust through decades of solid, accurate reporting and cared deeply about the city he covered”.

He went on to say that he would also be left “screaming in frustration” as Adam casually mentioned “a jaw-dropping exclusive five minutes before deadline”.

Cycling to stories became something Adam known for

The most notable story for Adam, however, was when he covered the tragic killing of a child in Whitehawk, Brighton.

“The case that sticks out most in my mind was the death of a seven-year-old girl called Maria Colwell in 1973,” he said.

“It led to a whole lot of reform in the way children are dealt with and cared for, which was vital at the time, and The Argus did play a great part in getting the details before the public and ensuring something was done.

“I’ve never known anything move a community so much as the death of this little girl. I’m very pleased and proud to have played a minor part in it – I’ll never forget it.”

Maria’s stepfather was convicted of manslaughter over her death. Adam’s steadfast reporting contributed to later changes in legislation to protect children.

Adam also covered the Brighton Bomb in 1984.

He once told the Press Gazette: “I remember being in The Grand hotel at 1am in the morning, having written the last of my stories, going home and then being woken up at 3am by one of our timekeepers saying ‘I think there’s been a bomb at The Grand’. I went down and got on the roof of the conference centre next door and then went back to the office. We got the whole office in by 5am.”

Adam was regularly seen cycling through Brighton

Later in his career, Adam’s name was chosen to feature on the front of a Brighton and Hove bus – a rare honour, usually given posthumously to historic figures of the city – while his name today is still heard across newsrooms, among journalists and editors alike.

Adam with the bus featuring his name

Arron Hendy, editor of The Argus, said: “Adam has continued to write fantastic columns for all these years and he still contacts me about stories we should be doing. I have called him for contacts and to help with stories knowing that if Adam does not know about it then it's probably not worth knowing.

"We will miss him and his column dearly but our loss is the gain for his lovely family. He will of course be invited to be guest of honour when we officially open our new city centre office."

Adam was also partial to a bit of swimming in his younger years

The Sage of Sussex is taking a well-earned retirement ahead of a milestone birthday but shows little sign of slowing down.

“I shall be eighty this year, so I’m looking forward to that,” he said.

“I never thought I’d get there, but I’m going to have a hell of a time when I do.”

Without doubt Adam will be sorely missed by the residents of Brighton and Hove, and leave unfillable shoes among journalists.

And his advice for young reporters starting out today? “Be true to yourself, have a good laugh, and never try and fool people because it won’t work.”

Adam retires to enjoy his milestone birthday