AFTER almost half a century of inky fingers, Graham Williams has seen his last newspaper roll off the presses at the Oxford Mail.

The 63-year-old retired on Wednesday after 47 years in newspaper printing, including 44 years with the Mail.

The Eynsham resident says he has seen a wealth of changes in the industry, including widespread colour printing and use of computers. He said he still relishes the fresh smell of printing ink that brings the county’s residents its daily dose of news.

Born and raised in Headington, the father-of-three was began work at our former New Inn Hall Street headquarters aged 16 in 1965.

Our news and printing operation moved its current base in Osney Mead in the early 1970s and Mr Williams has been a regular sight ever since.

He even appeared in the paper itself as a case study in a 1976 article on parenting.

He said: “I still get a buzz getting the press up and going. It is going to be a bit strange, I have been doing the job for such a long time.”

The father of three and grandfather of two, married to Penny since 1969, said he is looking forward to pursuing his interests of rambling and gardening.

Geoff Harvey, regional print manager for Newsquest, which owns the Mail, paid tribute to Mr Williams as a reliable, conscientious colleague with an “infectious” laugh.”