50 YEARS ago saw a 17-year-old newspaper delivery boy from Weymouth scoop top prize at an annual ceremony.

David Howe was named South Dorset’s Top Newsboy of 1970, beating 29 other competitors and winning £50.

David told the Echo: “I still don’t know why the judges selected me. It’s not the easiest of tasks to struggle out of a warm bed at 6.30 every morning of every week of every year. I often wish I could stay in bed for a bit longer, especially when it’s wet and cold.”

David had been delivering papers for more than four years to 41 houses in the area. According to the Echo, it would take him about 45 minutes to complete his round, before he headed to Weymouth Grammar School where he studied physics, pure maths and applied maths.

The newsboy contest was part of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents’ Golden Jubilee Week. Entrants were quizzed by a panel of judges, who assessed personality, appearance and other crucial qualities before naming their top newsboy.

Mr Andrew Burnett, manager of the Dorset Evening Echo, presented David with his trophy.