The Hereford Admag is 40 years old!

AN important feature of Herefordshire’s thriving business scene, the Admag has catered for consumer demands in town and country since it first hit the streets back in April 1978.

After that modest beginning 40 years ago, it has gone from strength to strength, becoming a key player in the life of the county.

With its dedicated team, the Admag has kept a finger on the local pulse, and is well and truly considered a household name.

A glance through that first auspicious edition is a trip down memory lane. In the late 70s video cassette recorders were clearly all the rage, Mead and Tomkinson was still going strong at the Wye Bridge Garage, (now the site of the Left Bank), and readers were persuaded to make their way to the Crystal Room for a lively evening of music and song.

Held in great affection, this former entertainment venue promised an alluring bill of artistes. That spring the Crystal Room boasted performances from Marty Wilde, Don Maclean and Jim Davidson, with admission tickets available at a modest £1 but leaping up to £1.75 on Saturday nights. By contrast, the mighty Del Shannon’s one night appearance that April set customers back a pricey £2.50.

Saxty’s was promising a “very special atmosphere” while Patties Coffee House in Commercial Street offered light snacks “nicely served”. You could dial Hereford 6022 and secure a ticket to dance your cares away at the Flamingo’s popular discos, or pop along to the Focus cinema to watch Star Wars, “heralded as the greatest fantasy of all time”.

The epic film even prompted the Admag to run a colouring competition for its younger readers, the best entries rewarded with free cinema tickets.

The small adds offered a tempting range of items to buy or sell. Asbestos roofing sheets were advertised for sale, or a job lot of trunks claimed to be “ideal for storing or emigrating”. Meanwhile, a Hoovermatic twin tub washing machine was up for grabs at £25 while one seller advertised a curious assortment which included a Singer sewing machine in a teak cabinet and a fishing suit.

Twenty years later, the Admag was celebrating another major milestone, and the paper remained firmly at the heart of county events. The Crystal Room was still a compelling rendezvous, and punters could get a pint at the Kites Nest, a long closed pub at Swainshill. Krazy Karaoke proved a magnet for many, while Gerry the Magician entertained at kids’ parties. In 1998, readers might even have stretched to a ‘Chateau’ de luxe bathroom suite for a mere £499 (minus the brass taps, of course).

Still going strong after 40 years, the freebie is still held in deep affection. And while tastes may have changed over the decades, the Hereford Admag continues to cater for the hopes and aspirations of all.