Good luck to departing Echo editor Anita

I see that one of my favourite regional newspaper editors, Anita Syvret, is leaving the Gloucestershire Echo after 18 years. She is to set up her own consultancy business. She told holdthefrontpage: "I'm going to miss the cut and thrust. But I have no regrets."

She was the first woman in Britain since 1939 to edit a regional daily and enjoyed great success. She won awards. She fought off attempts to muzzle the press. She has been a good ambassador for journalism. These efforts are not reflected in the paper's sales, down of late to 21,000, but the Echo - owned by Northcliffe - has performed better than many other provincial dailies. I wish her well in her next enterprise.