A message from Shotley Peninsula Nub News editor Derek Davis.

Last week a number of regrettable spelling mistakes appeared in Nub News, for which I was responsible.

That meant our usually very high journalistic standards were not met and therefore had a detrimental effect on you the readers' level of enjoyment and easy content flow.

For that I apologise.

While mistakes are not uncommon, by all of us, when they occur on my Nub News pages I'm usually quick in rectifying them however due to technical issues while I was away in Newcastle at an Armed Forces Covenant conference, they were not dealt with as efficiently as they should have been.

I offer that as an explanation, not an excuse and again apologise unreservedly to those affected, directly or indirectly.

Confession

Now, I have wrestled with this next bit, admitting to why and how the mistakes happened in the first place.

I could blame spellcheck changing words (partridge to patricide for example), or time pressure, stress or even clumsy fingers. However I'm going to come clean.

The vast majority to silly spelling mistakes or numbers being incorrect are purely down to me being mildly dyslexic, and I feel it has got worse as the years rumble on for me.

With almost 30 years was a journalist under my belt, winning numerous awards and writing for huge selling newspapers at local, regional and national level, from the Portsmouth Journal to the Sunday Times, I know my job, and even if I say so myself, am pretty decent at it.

My strengths over the years has been breaking big stories, utilising an amazing array of contacts to be able to go in depth on stories that matter. I have interviewed an incredible list of famous, and not so famous people, from Margaret Thatcher, five England football managers, among wide range of politicians, sports stars, celebrities and other people with incredible tales to tell.

What I have not been so good at, as is increasingly obvious, is writing clean copy and it is only due to some fabulous sub-editors at all the aforementioned papers, that I got away with it. I have never let my dyslexia hold me back.

Indeed I went through primary and secondary schools without it being picked up. It was only when I was preparing to sit exams for promotion in the Royal Navy that an officer asked me if I was dyslexic, I had never heard of it, never mind knowing if I was. He diagnosed it, and tweaked his teaching to enable me to understand and pass the necessary exams, albeit with low marks.

My careers teacher at Stanway Secondary told me and a pal, we would never be journalists, or in Paul's case a sports broadcaster. So I joined Ganges months later, but, 20 years on after going back to college, finishing as the top journalist student in the country, I achieved my dream and this dyslexic kid became a regular contributor to many national sports pages.

I tell you this, not as an excuse, or even an explanation, but to say to anyone else, adult or child, that may, or may not have been diagnosed with dyslexia at whatever level, to never let it hold you back in whatever your ambition in life is.

If I can do it - so can you.

So, from my perspective as Nub News editor, I will continue to offer a quality hyperlocal, accurate and relevant online news service to the best of my ability.

However, if there is an error in any article, caption or promotional post, please email me at [email protected], or private message me, and I will ensure it is rectified as quickly as possible.

Suffolk Dyslexia Association describes dyslexia as a hidden (not visible) disability that mainly affects the development of literacy skills such as reading, writing and spelling.

Short-term memory, mathematical ability, concentration levels, personal organisation and the ability to put things in sequence may also be affected.

Whom does it affect and how?

• In the UK, approximately 10% of the population is affected, to varying degrees, 4% have severe dyslexia.
• It often runs in families.
• It can result in low self-esteem, lack of confidence and behavioural difficulties.
• Some people with dyslexia show strengths in creative abilities, problem solving and visual and technical skills.

With appropriate support, dyslexia need not be a barrier to success.

Get help or more information from the Suffolk Dyslexia Association here...