THE News of the World’s demise could be good news for Popley man Christopher Ayland.
In 1843, his foresighted great great grandfather, Edward Ayland, popped out to buy the first issue of the paper – for just three pence.
He kept it and now, 168 years on, Christopher is the owner of one of the few remaining first editions of what became Britain’s most popular read.
And the unusual family heirloom could net the 67-year-old thousands of pounds.
“My father first showed it to me when I was a little boy,” he said. “I remember very clearly seeing it for the first time. I was seven and it was still some 108 years old and I was awed by it.
“When my father died, I inherited his collection. It was kept in a battered folder and had not been taken out of the draw for years.
On Sunday, the News of the World published its last edition following News International’s decision to scrap the title in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal.
Millions of copies were snapped up, with shops reporting having sold out within hours and the £1 paper was selling for up to £30 on eBay.
But Mr Ayland said having the eight-page original hanging on his wall means a lot to him, but he said he may sell the sought-after item.
He said: “I think having one of the first is priceless, considering the paper’s history. I read it from cover to cover over the weekend and came across some of most extraordinary stories.
“But if it is worth a bit of cash, then I probably would sell it.”
While the last issue’s front page had a single headline saying ‘Thank you and goodbye’, the first edition’s front is packed with jokes, a coroner’s report into a fatal shooting and adverts.
Mr Ayland said: “When you look at this and then see what has happened with the phone hacking, I am sure the original owners would be turning in their grave.”
On Thursday last week, Basingstoke was in the national spotlight when three and a half million viewers tuned in to watch Question Time just hours after the announcement the newspaper was being axed.
Hollywood star Hugh Grant joined David Dimbleby and former Sun columnist Jon Gaunt at the Anvil to discuss the decision.
