A decade after the Sheerness Guardian promised to be an organ of Island news and information, it had competition in the shape of the Sheerness Times.

Founded by businessman John Cole, who had arrived on the Island from Colchester in 1820, it was first set up at his family printing company in Blue Town.

John Cole was succeeded by his son Samuel as proprietor of the Times in 1872 when, with other gentlemen, he set about endeavouring to reform the government of the town.

The local affairs of Sheerness were practically run by "one-man rule" which proved hard to break down. There was no ballot at this time except in the School Board Election - voting was by open papers left at houses and called for three days later.

They were then "straightened out" and counted.

Elections were manipulated in a manner which would astonish voters today.

The Times took issue with the "privilege system" and made enemies among those who desired this form of government.

With the object of compelling the paper to put up its shutters, they eventually excluded reporters from attending meetings of the Local Board of Health, the School Board and the Pier and Pavement commissions.

In a small town like Sheerness, with no reports of meetings of public bodies, except the Board of Guardians, it was confidently expected the publication of the Times would cease.

No way. The paper had supporters on the Local Board - lovers of freedom and good government who rallied to its assistance. They were: Edward Turmine, a retired RN officer; David Prosser, a chemist; Edward Brightman (later to become Local Board chairman); and John Copland, a solicitor.

These four fought the battle for greater freedom on the Local Board and the Times supplemented their efforts in its columns. Reports on the meetings appeared regularly. When meetings moved to Thursday evenings, how much the Times owed to Mr Turmine was known only to a few on the journal. With a paper to be on the streets each Friday, the gentleman always ensured the comprehensive reports were ready for composition.

The descriptions of "scenes" were colourful, and members fumed!

To bring matters to a head and overrule the exclusion, the editor-proprietor of the Times, Samuel Cole, sought election to the Local Board and was second in the poll with 1,080 votes.

Press exclusion received a hard blow.

The Times continued to be published from 37 High Street, Blue Town until June 1887 when a lease was taken on 31 High Street, Mile Town.

The business remained there until 1901 when the premises were known as 34 and 36 High Street. The journal hummed along until the outbreak of the First World War when the call-up reduced the staff to such an extent it struggled until 1916 and was forced to close.

The copyright was not disposed of - it was intended to republish after the cessation of hostilities. However, the Sheerness Guardian continued with an almost full staff.

Eventually the Times fought back, but starting afresh was not easy. It was decided to issue a four-page paper at 1d as before, but to publish at noon on Thursday instead of Friday.

But, such was the support, the first edition was six pages, then increased to eight. More pictures were used, and gradually the paper grew, and with it the need for faster machinery.

In addition to many small items a six magazine Linotype was added to the existing composing plant, a fast two revolution news-printing machine (fully automatic) and a modern folder.

The Times never looked back.