My awards night with Sir Michael Parkinson at a star-studded presentation event in London.

By Don Hale don hale blog

*Sir Michael Parkinson (*above) with Don Hale OBE at an awards ceremony in London.

My awards night with Sir Michael Parkinson at a star-studded presentation event in London.

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

It was sad to hear of the loss of Sir Michael Parkinson this week. I was fortunate to have met Sir Michael, some time ago, and he was a keen follower of my former justice campaign. He presented me with a top award when I was Journalist of the Year for the first time in about 2001. I was on the top table with him at an awards do, we chatted about lots of things and afterwards, he presented my wife Kath with the table flowers. It was a great star-studded evening at some rather posh place in London. RIP Parky!

Comments

Post a Comment

Your comments are welcomed on all posts

Most popular posts

Conwy parkrun under threat due to new proposals - SAVE CONWY PARKRUN GROUP FORMED.

By Don Hale don hale blog
Image
*Pictured above - some of the new SAVE CONWY PARKUN group after their meeting last Saturday morning at the RSPB site at Conwy. Conwy parkrun under threat due to new proposals  Report by Don Hale https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   The future of Conwy parkrun is currently under threat after Welsh Parkrun officials have decided to impose new changes to this picturesque 5k course, which include plans for a different start area on Conwy Cob, with alternative car parking arrangements. This parkrun has been out of action for about twelve weeks due to construction work on part of the course for a multi-million-pound cycle track, but just as runners were preparing to re-start their activities, they have now been hit a series of interventions, restrictions, and demands on the event organisers by parkrun officials who have continued the suspension of this popular event. Just a few years ago however, this event was voted the second most popular parkrun in the world, with tens of thousands...
Read more

Public response to Conwy Parkrun's statement about recent behind the scenes activity.

By Don Hale don hale blog
Image
Response to Conwy Parkrun's potentially controversial statement about the latest behind the scenes activities... Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com Following the statement issued by Conwy parkrun officials on Thursday afternoon, it would now seem that their comments have attracted widespread controversy, confusion and much anger, with many volunteers and regular runners and supporters, demanding to air their personal views in response. This feature contains some varied reactions etc:   *I have therefore included a link and a copy of the parkrun statement from 29/5/25 which appeared on my blog, and on the Conwy Parkrun’s Facebook page from yesterday. And in addition, I have also included – in the interests of fairness and accountability – the latest updated statement from Conwy parkrun officials, which seems to have attracted further controversy and debate, together with the pubic reaction:   *This is a link to the original statement on my blog from Conw...
Read more

Statement from Conwy Parkrun about work behind the scenes

By Don Hale don hale blog
Image
Dear Conwy parkrun community, We wanted to update you on the work going on behind the scenes to get Conwy parkrun back up and running.  It has been fantastic to see, from our Facebook page, the Conwy parkrun community enjoying their Saturday mornings at other parkruns, far and wide – but it would be even better to have everyone back in Conwy. We wanted to take this opportunity to update you on the progress we are making. As you know, the work on the path between the RSPB nature reserve and the railway bridge forced us to pause our parkrun while the path was resurfaced. It’s great to see that this work has been completed on time, and it does look fantastic. Unfortunately, at the same time that this work began, we were made aware of concerns from parkrun HQ regarding the adequacy and safety of our car parking. This has meant we must address these concerns before we are allowed to restart. The RSPB car park has been identified as being too small for an event that continues to grow in ...
Read more

Another record smashed at Penrhyn Castle parkrun and four age cat wins at Bala...

By Don Hale don hale blog
Image
*Four members of NWRRC won their respective age cats at  Port y Bala parkrun last Saturday. They are shown (*above l-r): Kay Hatton, Carla Green, Martin Green, and Elizabeth Driscoll with her dog Winston. Another record smashed at Penrhyn Castle parkrun and four age cat wins at Bala... Report by Don Hale. Photos by John Hatton and  Michael Finnie. *The start of the Penrhyn Castle parkrun (*above) in the rain. It seems that records at Penrhyn Castle parkrun are more like London buses, with nothing for ages then suddenly two come along at once. Only last week Sara Ismail-Sutton smashed the female course record and last Saturday, despite the rain, there was another bumper turn-out of visiting athletes, who beat the previous attendance record with 370 finishers. And it was very nearly a hat-trick of records, with Colwyn Bay athlete and US student  Bryn Woodall  (*pictured right), enjoying a tremendous run at Penrhyn on their four-lap woodland route on his return to the U...
Read more

Fast times and NW championships medals at the Llanrug 5k midweek race.

By Don Hale don hale blog
Image
*Pictured above - the start of the NW 5k championship race at Llanrug. (*photos courtesy of Will Ash (Bill Scriven). Fast times and NW championships medals at the Llanrug 5k midweek race...results and medal winners. *Report by Don Hale.  *All photos courtesy of Will Ash (Bill Scriven). https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   There was a very good entry for the Llanrug 5k race in midweek with some fast times recorded over a challenging course with the first 17 athletes all dipping under 18 minutes. This well organised event was also run in conjunction with the  North Wales Regional 5k championships  and overall it attracted over two-hundred elite, club, and varied ability runners from across the area and beyond. Gwion Roberts  (Meirionnydd RC) was the overall race winner in 16 minutes and 7 seconds, with Gwion’s club colleague  John Davies  2nd in 16.44, and  Dave Bus Hughes  (Eryri Harriers) 3rd in 16.59. The first three female finishers all repre...
Read more

Sizzling success for children’s cancer charities and runners at the Deganwy Dash/Rohan’s Run.

By Don Hale don hale blog
Image
*Pictured above - some members of North Wales Road Runners at the Dash. Sizzling success for children’s cancer charities and runners at the Deganwy Dash/Rohan’s Run... Report by Don Hale.  Photos courtesy of Zoe Roberts, Stuart Culverhouse and Michael Finnie. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com *Also check out Ken Poulter’s amazing drone video from the start of the Dash: https://www.facebook.com/ken.poulter.3/videos/1004385718349663/ *Further Dash photos Caitlin Faye are available on this link: https://www.facebook.com/100070394586779/posts/729637179392762/?mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=k99W8YFezewHuQtI   *The race leaders (*above left) on the way out and (*right) the eventual race winner Simon Cole from GOG Triathlon.   It was hot and humid with a light breeze at last Friday night’s 5-mile Deganwy Dash – also known as Rohan’s Run – with many runners setting a sizzling pace and helping to raise thousands of pounds for children’s cancer charities. The event proved to be very succe...
Read more

RNLI Llandudno 5K & 1K Fun Run on 28/9/25.

By Don Hale don hale blog
Image
RLNI Llandudno 5K & 1K Fun Run Sunday 28th September 2025 Join Us to Support RNLI Llandudno! https://rnli.niftyentries.com/RLNI-Llandudno-5K-1K-Fun-Run-2025 https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com Be part of something special and help save lives at sea by signing up for our  first-ever charity run ! 🏃‍♂️  5km Run  – Open to all ages and abilities 👟  1km Fun Run  – Perfect for children and newbies to running This exciting event is the first of its kind hosted by  RNLI Llandudno , and  your support will make a real difference . Every step you take and every pound you donate helps our volunteer lifeboat crews continue their vital work— saving lives and keeping people safe along the beautiful North Wales coast . 🌊 Together, we can make our shores safer. 💙 Sign up today and be a lifesaver! Description :  A fast and flat course for both distances. The race starts and finishes on Llandudno Promenade, close to the Lifeboat Station. Entries are limited to...
Read more

Welsh Masters and UK Masters Open Track and Field Competition at Avon/Yate & District AC in June 2025.

By Don Hale don hale blog
Image
  Welsh Masters and UK Masters Open Track & Field Competition...8th June 2025... Attention all Welsh Masters Athletics members and all UK Masters for the next major masters track and field events. Introduction by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co,uk   The Masters Open will be held for the third consecutive year on Sunday the 8th of June at the Yate Outdoor Sports Complex, BS37 7LB.   DATE & TIME 08/06/2025, 10:00   REGISTRATION DEADLINE 30/05/2025, 23:59 VENUE NAME Yate Outdoor Sports Centre ADDRESS Broad Lane (Behind Brimsham Green School) CITY & COUNTRY BS37 7LB   Yate, United Kingdom ORGANISER Yate & District Athletic Club   All athletes must be 35 or over on the day of competition and entries will be on a first come, first served basis. Any entries from athletes aged under 35 will be rejected and we look forward to welcoming you when the time comes.    Para athletes are welcome to enter thi...
Read more

Parkrun round-up plus news of Carla and Kevin on the road...

By Don Hale don hale blog
Image
*Pictured above - Elizabeth Driscoll and her dog Winston at Penrhyn Castle parkrun. Parkrun round-up plus news of Carla and Kevin on the road Report by Don Hale. Penrhyn photos by Michael Finnie. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com    *Carla Green (*above left), with Kevin Higgins. Carla Green  from NWRRC ran well in the Swansea half marathon on Sunday and she was 521st out of 5,729 entrants. She was the 94th female finisher in a chip time of 1.31.42, and her club colleague  Kevin Higgins  travelled to  Port Sunlight  on the same day to compete in two races and explained: “ Double header this morning in  Port Sunlight races . First a 5k and then a 10k straight after it. Two great races. Great course and an extra medal for completing in both races. My times were: 5k in 28 minutes 50 seconds, and 59 minutes 33 seconds   in the 10k.” *Action (*above and below) from the Penryhn Castle parkrun. Parkrun round-up *Penrhyn:   Chris Turner  (Er...
Read more

Visiting athlete smashed the female course record at Penrhyn parkrun, plus other results and reports...

By Don Hale don hale blog
Image
*Pictured above - Kay Hatton and Mike Hayton both won their age cats. Visiting athlete smashed the female course record at Penrhyn parkrun, plus other results and reports... Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Penrhyn Castle parkrun attracted 317 entrants last Saturday including visiting athlete Sara Ismail-Sutton (Durham City Harriers), who was not only the 1st finisher overall, but she also smashed the female course record on her debut in 17.45. Despite the cool and blustery conditions Sara beat all her male rivals with ease, and was eventually followed by  Aidan Thomas  in 18.30, and VM60 veteran  Graham Bale  (Plymstock RR), who gave Aidan a hard chase in 3rd spot in 18.33. Quite remarkably, the first three female finishers were all debutants, and with Sara taking the top-spot overall, the 2nd female place was taken by  Anna Patrickson  (City of Salisbury), in 21.56, with  Patricia Ronksley ( Stragglers), 3rd in 23.09....
Read more