THE editor of Malvern Priory's parish magazine and its predecessor is retiring after 40 years at the helm.

Mary Dixey has been producing the magazine, month in, month out, since the days when it was a joint publication between a number of Malvern churches.

She said: "It was very difficult with copy always arriving late and Canon Lunt, the vicar at the time, said we should start a separate one.

So, in April 1964, the first issue of the new magazine was published and has appeared every month since then.

That first issue, printed by Worcester firm Barnes Hall, cost £11 for 500 copies. But costs inevitably rose over the years.

"We thought we would have to duplicate it ourselves," said Miss Dixey. "Then, while I was on holiday in the West Country, I went to a tiny church where I saw a beautifully-printed magazine".

This turned out to be the work of Bridport family firm Creeds, which has been printing the Priory magazine ever since.

Miss Dixey said: "In the early days, Creeds used to deliver the magazine to Taunton market. A farmer from Broadheath used to go down there and he would bring it back."

However, Creeds later started delivering it themselves.

"They have been very good to us," said Miss Dixey. "One Easter the parcel was stolen from the church porch - the thieves must have been very disappointed when they opened it - and within 36 hours Creeds had reprinted it and sent it to us."

When Miss Dixey started, she only edited copy, as he also had a job as teacher at the old North Malvern Infants School. Since retirement, she has taken on advertising and distribution tasks.

Now she is has given up, her work will be done by a team of four volunteers.