THIS week the Times bade farewell to Tavistock reporter Lindsay Turpin, who is taking maternity leave pending the birth of hers and her husband Jamie’s baby in September.

Covering the Tavistock patch for Lindsay while she is busy taking care of baby Turpin is Shannon Hards.

Shannon, who lives in Launceston, has just graduated from Bournemouth University with a degree in multimedia journalism.

Shannon, 21, said: ‘I’ve really enjoyed my first week at the paper and it’s been great meeting lots of lovely people in Tavistock and the surrounding area.’

Times editor Jane Honey said much as the editorial team would miss Lindsay during her leave, Shannon had already settled in well.

‘We were delighted to find such a great young journalist to join us and we hope she will be very happy here in Tavistock,’ said Jane.