The sale of the Tindle Newspaper empire marks the beginning of a new era for the Herald and Post newspapers.

However, it also marks the end of an era for one of Farnham’s most-loved families and their long-standing role in local journalism in Surrey and Hampshire.

The group’s founder, Sir Ray Tindle, began his news venture after the Second World War, using his £300 demobilisation savings to purchase the Balham & Tooting Gazette and launch Tindle Newspapers.

He first discovered his passion for journalism while serving in the Devonshire Regiment during the war, producing a newspaper for fellow soldiers on a troop ship bound for the Far East.

That investment laid the foundations for what became a substantial network of local newspapers across the UK, including titles such as the Cornish & Devon Post, the Mid Devon Advertiser, the Isle of Man Courier and, of course, the Farnham Herald, Bordon Herald, Haslemere Herald, Alton Herald and the Petersfield Post.

The company’s last acquisition in the region was the Woking News & Mail, purchased in 2022.

At its peak, Tindle Newspapers owned and operated more than 220 local titles, serving communities large and small. Sir Ray was also known for running the business entirely debt-free, insisting each paper was self-financed - a model that helped the group withstand economic downturns over several decades.

He believed strongly in ultra-local reporting, often telling staff that newspapers should focus on “names, places and faces” within their communities.

In the 1960s, Sir Ray and his wife, Lady Beryl Tindle, made Farnham their home. Childhood sweethearts, they had first met at the age of seven before marrying in 1949.

Their arrival marked the start of more than 50 years of service to local news in the town, alongside significant support for charities and community organisations.

The Tindle name became synonymous with Farnham, with Sir Ray affectionately known as “Mr Farnham” for his dedication and service to the town.

He was a long-time supporter of the Festival of Transport, which raises funds each year for Frimley Park Hospital and Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice.

Sir Ray was also well known for his passion for cars and his extensive collection, enjoying a long association with the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.

He marked his involvement in the 50th run in 2013, driving his single-cylinder Speedwell Dogcart, a 1904 vehicle he had bought more than half a century earlier to fulfil a childhood ambition. He would also often lead the Farnham Carnival procession in the same car, a familiar sight for generations of residents.

Sir Ray was made the first Freeman of Farnham in recognition of his philanthropy, civic pride and commitment to the local community.

His contribution to the newspaper industry was also recognised nationally, with an OBE in 1973, a CBE in 1987 and a knighthood in 1994. He also knew many members of the Royal Family and was particularly close to the then Prince of Wales, now King Charles III.

He played a key role in securing the future of several important Farnham assets, while also helping unemployed people through his Tindle Enterprise Centres, which provided rent-free space for new businesses.

He purchased the Wrecclesham Community Centre and gifted it to the town, and helped fund the Bishop’s Meadow Trust’s purchase of the water meadows.

Known for his determination and optimism, his personal motto “Noli Cedere” — meaning “never surrender” — reflected the approach that defined both his life and career.

Sir Ray, who died on April 16, 2022, aged 95, was described at a memorial service at St John’s Church in Farnham attended by more than 200 people as “supremely a newspaper man”.

Tributes at the service highlighted both Sir Ray and Lady Beryl Tindle as major philanthropic figures in Farnham.

Lady Beryl Tindle was described by Sir Ray as “his rock”. She also made a significant contribution to the town through her charitable work, including her Downing Street charity shop, which opened in 1987 and closed 34 years later when she retired at 94. She died in January 2024, aged 96.

Farnham Town Council honoured Sir Ray and Lady Beryl’s service to the town in 2014 by naming one of the newly refurbished suites after him. The Tindle Suite is situated in the council’s South Street offices.

Lion and Lamb Yard is home to a bench bearing the names of Sir Ray and Lady Tindle, reflecting their regular visits to the area.

Sir Ray’s son, Owen Tindle, took over the company before his father’s death, and said the decision to sell what had been built over decades had been a difficult one.

He said: “This has not been an easy decision for my family. The business was built by my late father and we are immensely proud of its rich heritage and the important role it has long played in the communities we serve.

“Being a responsible long-term custodian also means recognising when it is time for change.”

The business is being acquired by a joint venture between Iliffe Media Group and the Fowler family, ensuring the Herald and Post’s titles remain in private, family hands with a clear long-term commitment to independent, community-focused journalism.

While the sale marks the end of the Tindle era, the move into new family ownership signals continuity in our role at the heart of the community.