The year 1888 is remembered for a number of things.
It was the year the London matchgirls went on strike, Jack the Ripper haunted Whitechapel, the British empire took over Borneo, the deodorant was invented – and the Daily Echo was born.
The Southern Echo as it was called, hit the streets of Hampshire in August of 1888 – which means that this year we are celebrating our 120th birthday, denoted in our masthead from today.
Throughout the year we will be staging events and creating special publications to mark our historic anniversary.
This newspaper has come a long way of course since those times when it announced it’s staff of efficient reporters would furnish it with: “early information of all occurrences of interest and with reports of meetings and gatherings of a public character including cricket and other sports.”
Or have we?
Indeed that description could well encompass in a nutshell the news and information the paper gathers and publishes still today.

Headliners take to the stage YOUNGSTERS taking part in a show to celebrate the 120-year history of the Daily Echo are now rehearsing in their spectacular new costumes. Ringing the changes at Plummers’ store It was a name many Southampton people will remember with affection as over the years the departmental store of Plummer Roddis became not only a popular place to shop but also a distinctive local landmark. Reader comments (4) Woolworths store means sweet memories for me Is it a trick of the memory or are Wagon Wheels really smaller compared with the ones bought at the old FW Woolworth store that once stood in the Bitterne shopping centre in Southampton? Reader comments (3) Most read Comments 1 Children ‘risk lives’ by halting air ambulance 2 Saints need to confound history 3 Veel geluk, Jan! 4 Bus firms pay price for being unreliable 5 Thieves target cars at hospital 6 Scores of beach huts damaged in raid 7 Worst-in-country SATs results are challenged 8 Rashid torments Hants with career-best display 9 ‘Let’s buy the land and kill off ABP plans’ 10 Mother throws children from burning house Today | 7 Days 1 Teens handled live rocket flare while fishing 2 Mass street brawl 3 Poortvliet to field his first team 4 Jan: We're full of confidence for Cardiff 5 Jan will mix it up against Stoke 6 Saints show delights Poortvliet 7 Children ‘risk lives’ by halting air ambulance 8 ‘Let’s buy the land and kill off ABP plans’ 9 Taxi wars 10 Poortvliet wowed by Saints quality