THE editors of a community magazine have put their pens down for the final time as they announced plans to retire after 40 years.

Carterton Community Magazine will be released for the final time on March 1, to coincide with its 40th anniversary.

Editor Wendy Morgan said the team of four had decided the time was right to retire, after years of being “the mouthpiece of residents”.

She said: “We wish to retire from producing this magazine as with health problems and advancing old age we feel it is the right decision to stop and take it easy.

“Over the last 40 years many volunteers have helped out as part of the editorial team and a great many residents have been on our delivery teams.

“For this last issue we have 50 volunteers delivering the magazine and our grateful thanks to them and previous ones who have kept this magazine going over the years.”

Mrs Morgan, aged in her seventies, runs the magazine with husband and distributor Chris, in his eighties, treasurer Margaret Millington, also in her late seventies, and proof reader Fred Robertson, who is turning 90 next year.

The booklet is released every quarter and informs residents of clubs and events in the area, any news of interest and allows local companies to advertise.

Mrs Morgan added: “The magazine is sort of our baby, so we want to close it down with us. We are not handing it over to anyone else.

“We are all sorry to see it go but it’s just time to stop. It’s been very successful and everyone is very happy with it.”

Carterton Community Magazine was set up in 1976, and was edited first by Pat Griffin, who called it “everybody’s magazine”.

The free publication was distributed to all 3,000 homes in Carterton at the time, when it was a village.

Mrs Morgan has been involved since the beginning, and took over as editor in about 1979. Her three colleagues have also been involved for several decades.

The editorial team have said thank-you to the advertisers, distributors, printers and all other volunteers who have been involved during the years.

On hearing of the closure of the magazine, the town council has since set up a colour magazine to be published four times a year as a replacement.

Town clerk Ron Spurs said: “It’s a shame they are finishing.

“We have said a huge thank-you to them for all their hard work.”