AFTER 34 years in newspapers, I still get excited when something special comes together - and that's how I feel about plans for a Remembrance Sunday edition of The Northern Echo.

It was more than a year ago that we decided we wanted to produce something special to commemorate he centenary of the First World War, and a paper on Remembrance Sunday 2014 seemed to fit the bill.

Earlier this year, we launched the "£100,000 For 100 Years" campaign - aiming to mark the centenary by providing vital funds for Phoenix House, the Help For Heroes rehabilitation centre at Catterick Garrison. 

It is an appeal which bridges the gap between generations of British soldiers and 10p from each copy of our Remembrance Sunday edition will go to that worthy cause.

The plans for the Sunday edition - featuring names and photographs of North-East soldiers who died, along with a collection of historic wartime front pages - were progressing well.

There was only one point of contention - the front page. My managing director, David Coates, was unimpressed with the work in progress, which had soldiers' faces over a poppy design.

"Why don't we commission an artist to do it - what about Mackenzie Thorpe?" he said.

I'll be honest - I thought he was tilting at windmills but I agreed to try to make contact with the North-East artist whose work is in demand all over the world.

It turned out to be an inspired idea. A Twitter message resulted in a phone call from Mackenzie and, from the moment I outlined the idea, he has been fully committed to working on the project.

"It will be an honour," he said.

I have no doubt that the work he produces will make this edition of The Northern Echo one of the most memorable in the distinguished 144-year history of the paper.

The work of art will be kept under wraps until a digital unveiling on The Northern Echo's website (www.northernecho.co.uk) at 7pm on Saturday, November 8.

The original painting will be auction by Tennant's, of Leyburn, in aid of Phoenix House.