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

By Don Hale

*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!

Don Hale is a former award winning investigative journalist and now a best-selling author who has created a very popular blog post linked to numerous social media sites. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025.

Comments

Post a Comment

Your comments are welcomed

Most recent posts

New Llandrillo-yn-Rhos parkrun celebrated an amazing launch event with over 500 athletes from across the UK

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above and below - hundreds of runners listen intently to the instructions given by run director Richard Peevor at the launch of the new Llandrillo-yn-Rhos parkrun New Llandrillo-yn-Rhos parkrun celebrated an amazing launch event...with over 500 athletes from across the UK. Exclusive report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk What a fantastic turn-out for the very first Llandrillo-yn-Rhos (Y Promenade) parkrun last Saturday, as over 500 mixed ability athletes travelled from near and far to help create and enjoy a spectacular occasion. Run directors  Richard Peevor, Sharon Hughes, Dougie Graham,  and Chris Spillane , together with their hard working support team of new volunteers and marshals, worked their socks off to produce an excellent event on a near perfect day - weatherwise - after recent storms had deposited a load of sand along the promenade course at Rhos on Sea.     *Above left - Run director Richard Peevor...
Read more

Full marks for new parkrun following a successful trial event...plus other results...

By Don Hale
Image
  *Pictured above - runners and officials receive instructions before the test event, and (*below), Steven Owen (GOG Triathlon), was the first finisher overall at the trial run. Full marks for new parkrun following a very successful trial event...plus other  results... Report by Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 A brand-new parkrun is set begin this Saturday at  Llandrillo-yn-Rhos,  which will offer keen  parkrunners  another exciting and varied choice of  events throughout North Wales.   This venue is one of several new parkrun initiatives and additional locations planned over the coming months in this region that could help further support this popular activity and  will also help to spread the number of entrants  amongst  many other current locations.   A very successful test run was organised last Saturday by run director Richard Peevor,  and his hard working team of volunteers and marshals , with invited runners ...
Read more

Clutch of prestigious silver medals for Road Running trio at the Inter-Counties cross country champs at Newtown.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - the delighted NW trio of Cheryl Frost, Kay Hatton and Karen Butler at the Inter-Counties XC at Newtown. Clutch of prestigious silver medals for Road Running trio at the Inter-Counties cross country champs at Newtown. Report by Don Hale. C omment  from Bernie Jones, and action photo by Andy Davies. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com Three top female veteran athletes from North Wales Road Runners exchanged their trainers for spikes on Sunday and competed in the Inter-Regional Cross Country championships at Newtown, and celebrated by winning a clutch of prestigious medals. The trio all performed well and enjoyed their runs on a very muddy but relatively flat course, and between them they collected several championships medals with  Cheryl Frost and Kay Hatton  winning team silver medals in the W55 event; and  Karen Butler  winning a team silver in the W65 event, plus an individual silver medal in her race. Their results were:  Cheryl Frost 29.5...
Read more

Rhos parkrun launch and North Wales parkrun results round-up

By Don Hale
Image
Llandrillo-yn-Rhos parkrun launch and North Wales parkrun results round-up.. Report by Don Hale https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   What a fantastic turn-out for the very first Llandrillo-yn-Rhos (Y Promenade) parkrun last Saturday, as over 500 mixed ability athletes travelled from near and far to help create and enjoy a spectacular occasion. Run directors  Richard Peevor, Sharon Hughes, Dougie Graham,  and Chris Spillane , together with their hard working support team of new volunteers and marshals, worked their socks off to produce an excellent event on a near perfect day - weatherwise - after recent storms had deposited a load of sand along the promenade course at Rhos on Sea. *Pictured above - three of the four new Llandrillo-yn-Rhos parkrun run directors (l-r): Dougie Graham Sharon Hughes and Richard Peevor, and (*below) some members from the 5k Your Way, Move Against Cancer Group at the start of the parkrun. The parkrun also welcomed m...
Read more

Mental Elf 2k and 5k races proved a huge success at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay, last Sunday.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above and below - some of the fun runners at the Mental Elf events. Mental Elf 2k and 5k races proved a huge success at Eirias Park, Colwy Bay last Sunday... Report by Don Hale. Pictures by Caitlin Faye Photography. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 John Hatton, who was one of the charity event organisers at last weekend’s Mental Elf races at Eirias Park, was delighted by the fun frolics and the great public response, plus the generous funds raised for such a worthy cause. Sponsored by Jennings , participants were told that they could either walk, jog, skip or run whilst soaking up the festive spirit, and whilst supporting Conwy and the Vale of Clwyd Minds, with a Mini Elf 2k fun run, and 5k event. After the event, John confirmed:  “A massive thank you to all the volunteers last Sunday at the Mental Elf 2k & 5k, held at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay.  What a day, and it began at 8am setting up the course. It was white everywhere, and a hailstorm was incredible. “The weathe...
Read more

Two amazing sprint records for top Welsh Master athlete Russell Whiting.

By Don Hale
Image
 *Pictured above - Welsh Master athlete sprint champion Russell Whiting in action. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025. www.welshmastersathetics.co.uk Two amazing sprint records for Welsh Master Russell Whiting. Well done to one of Welsh Master Athletic's top sprint champions in Russell Whiting, who has just had two of his outstanding track results verified by Chris Prussia, the WMAL records co-ordinator. This week, Chris confirmed: " Hi Russell.  On behalf of Welsh Masters Athletics Limited, it gives me great please to confirm that you have set two new record performances; 100m with a time of 11.93 seconds [bettering your own record] and 200m in a time of 24.58 seconds. Many congratulations and please find your attached certificates recognising your performances." Chris Pruski WMAL records co-ordinator.
Read more

AGM for Welsh Masters Athletics Ltd on 3rd December 2025.

By Don Hale
Image
AGM details for Welsh Masters Athletics via Zoom next week on 3rd December 2025. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 Rod Davies, a director from Welsh Masters Athletics Ltd, has sent some details about next week's AGM via Zoom. All relevant documents were sent to members previously by email. A link is now attached to give notification of joining the online meeting. This email is being sent to all confirmed members of Welsh Masters Athletics Limited who are on the Register of Members as at today’s date to provide the formal notice of Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held, by Zoom, on 3 December 2025 at 8:00 pm .  This is a reconvened meeting as that called on 19 November was one member short of a Quorum.  Those wishing to attend need to register in advance by emailing me before 1 December 2025 to get the system set up.  The link is:   https://us04web.zoom.us/j/75559217691?pwd=uY0w8aa3kxco74dbMcwO8FQlJaMAFi.1 I attach - Notice of Meeting, Proxy Form     ...
Read more

Llandudno Lions Boxing Day Sea Dip for local charities - entries now open.

By Don Hale
Image
Llandudno Lions Boxing Day Sea Dip for local charities - entries now open...all funds for deserving local charities... donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 The Lions Club of Llandudno have just announced the details about their annual Boxing Day Sea Dip in association with St George's Hotel on Friday 26th December, and entries are now open! The check in will be at 10am ready to go into the water at 11.30am (tide permitting). One of the organisers, John Chambers , suggests that suitable footwear should be worn and all the proceeds will go towards Alaw Ward (Cancer Ward) at Ysbyty Gwynedd, and local Lions Charities. John added: "This is a unique chance to raise funds for a deserving cause of your choice and to help Llandudno Lions Club. All registered swimmers will also receive a special certificate memento of the event, and prizes will also be awarded for Fancy Dress." *Entries for the Lions Club of Lland udno Boxing Day Dip are NOW OPEN. Please use link below FREE to ENTER. Plea...
Read more

Arthur Bebbington Twin Piers 10k 2026 - entries now open

By Don Hale
Image
 *Pictured above - Helen Hannam at the finish of the 2025 T win Piers 10k race Arthur Bebbington Twin Piers 10k 2026 Held under UK Athletic Rules. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 Race Headquarters:  Race Finish Near Porth Eirias towards Old Colwyn on Promenade LL29 8HH Transport to start @ 12.15pm prompt from Race HQ on Promenade for 1pm start from Llandudno Pier. Medals to all finishers CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES 10th JANUARY 2026 NO ENTRIES ACCEPTED ON THE DAY): Entries can be made via the link below: https://colwynbayac.niftyentries.com/Arthur-Bebbington-Twin-Piers-10k-2026?fbclid=IwY2xjawOMDshleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBVc0xSbkEzaDdhaVo3WHEwc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHm4CmICiaMknR3YcQonjcy7QdN20xBkZp-xnDT-ybOy8jHz6UOmgInu5szD7_aem_ySSqcdIZUuEms1tJUnsqvA#entryoptions PRIZE CATEGORIES Male - 1xU20,3xSM,3xV35,3xV40,3xV45,3xV50,3xV55,3xV60,1xV65,1xV70,1xV75,1xV80 Female- 1xU20,3xSF,3xV35,3xV40,3xV45,3xV50,3xV55,3xV60,1xV65,1xV70,1xV75,1xV80 The Tom Watson Memorial Tr...
Read more

Appeal for more female athletes by Welsh Masters athletics for inter-area fixture at York on 17th August.

By Don Hale
Image
Appeal for more female athletes by Welsh Masters athletics for inter-area fixture at York on 17th August. Urgent appeal by Welsh Masters Athletics. Report by Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk We have some spaces in the ladies team for the inter area competition in York on August 17th. If you are able to help with any of the following events please let us know by commenting about this post or emailing eleri9uk@yahoo.com. W35 - pole vault W50 - sprints & 800m W60 - 1500m, 3000m & racewalk W70 - 1500m We would love to field a full team so please do get in touch asap: eleri9uk@yahoo.com Brett-davis1@sky.com
Read more