FOLLOWING the recent news of Dr Richard Taylor's death, we look back at how we reported the "momentous occasion" he was first elected as MP for Wyre Forest.

On Friday, June 8, 2001, the Shuttle published a free eight-page special edition on Dr Taylor's historic landslide election victory.

Former Shuttle editor Clive Joyce has recalled how reporters worked through the night to ensure the supplement made it to press.

(Image: Clive Joyce)

He said: "Being a free weekly, it was an amazing operation.

"We wouldn't be able to tell our readers until the following Thursday about the election result, so we decided to do this overnight.

"We got eight pages together. We had myself, two reporters and one photographer at the count.

"The result was about 2.30am. We did a deal with a photography shop in Stourport that opened at four o'clock in the morning to process our pictures.

"We designed all the pages and put them together by five o'clock.

(Image: Clive Joyce)

"We then drove to Worcester where the paper was printed and we watched it come off the press by eight o'clock.

"We had ten thousand copies printed. Because it was a momentous occasion, we wanted to see it come off the press.

"We put ten thousand copies in the boot of my car and drive back to Kidderminster.

"We had a team of staff from distribution handing out free copies by nine o'clock in the morning.

"They had all gone by 11.30am.

"We all finished by midday and that's when we went home. We were up all night and working the day before".

(Image: Clive Joyce)

Mr Joyce added: "It was a landmark for Wyre Forest and I felt we did a decent job to do it justice. It was a major occasion.

"A lot of people kept them as souvenirs and it was quite an achievement for a free paper. We were pleased with the result.

"It was well received. I know Richard Taylor was delighted, understandably".

Former Shuttle editor Clive JoyceFormer Shuttle editor Clive Joyce (Image: Newsquest)

Paying tribute to Dr Taylor, Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier said: "The shock wave Richard sent through the political establishment was probably far greater than is remembered.

"After I was elected in 2010, I met a number of MPs who suggested that Richard’s local victory here in Wyre Forest was the trigger that started a huge investment into the NHS by Tony Blair’s government".

"Richard epitomised all that is good about politics. His was an example of decency and example by action. His presence on the political stump made for a clean, decent fight on issues, not personalities".

Dr Richard Taylor outside Kidderminster HospitalDr Richard Taylor outside Kidderminster Hospital (Image: Newsquest)

"Kidderminster has two famous sons: the preacher Richard Baxter, whose statue stands outside St Mary’s church on the ring road; and the creator of the modern postal service, Roland Hill, who similarly stands outside our town hall.

"I feel we have a third, Dr Richard Taylor MBE, who created a seismic change in political discourse, and showed us all how politics should be done."