Don Hale Blog

URGENT APPEAL TO HELP YOUNG SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN IN GAMBIA. Spare trainers, and sports kit urgently wanted for underprivileged athletes... Report by Don Hale.   North Wales Road Runner Steve Forsyth is appealing for any unwanted sports items including trainers, running t-shirts, vests, socks, shorts, unused gels, gloves, hats, and scarfs etc for use by underprivileged young athletes in Gambia. *Steve Forsyth (above) is appealing for trainers and kit for Gambia. Steve, who recently travelled to visit family and relatives in that country is urgently trying to fill a barrel load of equipment to send out there as soon as possible, and especially in time for potential participants in the local Banjul marathon. He confirmed: ‘Wanted please, your unwanted, or no longer used, men’s and women’s trainers, together with any other unwanted sports gear.  ‘I am sending them to Gambia for people who can’t afford trainers. I am happy to collect from any corner of the UK and note that we already have re

                                   The genuine detectives' office at Manchester Town Hall SHERLOCK HOLMES, DYNAMITERS, FOREIGN AGENTS AND ROGUES The perils of old Manchester & London  Report by Don Hale The period shortly before and after the turn of the 19th century coincided with the fictional publications of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who depicted his hero as the super sleuth Sherlock Holmes, and his able assistant Dr Watson.  Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - the creator of the Sherlock Holmes character His work was extremely topical, and although at times it was criticised by senior Manchester Detective Jerome Caminada, he often included important references to the ‘Dynamiters’ and ‘Foreign Agents,’ and Holmes regularly pitted his wits against the admirable Inspector Lustrade at the new Scotland Yard.                                   Famous Manchester detective Jerome Caminada By this time, London could also boast of a unique police riverboat force, incorporated within the main city

                                  An old lady newspaper seller Old Manchester & the Industrial Revolution Report by Don Hale. Manchester, like so many other major cities throughout the country was completely transformed by the Industrial Revolution. It led to the rapid construction of canals, railways, housing, and scores of factories - many were built close to rivers and made extensive use of waterpower.   The city soon became a magnet for people seeking accommodation and work. And part of this labour force included many Irish immigrants, who started to arrive in great numbers from about 1852, followed by the Italians in1865, and numerous other foreign workers. The unprecedented growth of cotton mills and the increasing demand for additional labour continued to swell the population of Manchester.  In 1811, the regions census figures showed a population of 79,459; and by 1838 it had more than doubled to 181,708. It continued to increase, reaching 303,382 just thirteen years later i

MURDER IN THE GRAVEYARD:   The  BBC’s award-winning documentary, and best selling book by Harper Collins and author Don Hale:  https://amzn.to/43ORl7U The Wendy Sewell murder September 1973 in Bakewell cemetery.   *VIEW THIS REVEALING BBC DOCUMENTARY NOW FOR FREE:  Length 28 mins 37 secs.  https://youtu.be/Y3Fe-KGQRUw It's your chance to examine the facts behind Britain's worst ever high profile miscarriage of justice where a man spent nearly 28-years in jail for a murder he  did not commit.   This is the award-winning BBC documentary produced by BBC Pebble Mill at Birmingham about the  Stephen Downing investigation - Murder in the Graveyard  - which examined the evidence that helped to eventually quash the conviction of a man jailed for nearly 28 years for a murder he did not commit - that of  Wendy Sewell in Bakewell cemetery in September 1973 . This exclusive film revealed and helped support the evidence discovered by former  investigative   journalist Don Hale  during his u

A GRIPPING TRUE-CRIME INVESTIGATION INTO THE LONGEST MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE IN BRITISH LEGAL HISTORY - NOW BEING LINKED TO YORKSHIRE RIPPER PETER SUTCLIFFE. * The book and campaign was featured on the Mark Dolan show on GB News on 10/2/24. This is the link:  https://twitter.com/GBNEWS/status/1756443424654233978 *Don Hale’s campaign and incredible story were also featured by ITV’s Judge Robert Rinder on his recent true crime series. *Read Don Hale's revised and thrilling true-crime  book –  MURDER IN THE GRAVEYARD , published in 2019 by Harper Collins.   In September 1973, Stephen Downing was convicted and indefinitely sentenced for the murder of Wendy Sewell, a young legal secretary in the town of Bakewell in the Peak District. Wendy was attacked in broad daylight in Bakewell Cemetery. Stephen Downing, the 17-year-old groundskeeper with learning difficulties and a reading age of 11, was the primary suspect. He was immediately arrested, questioned for nine hours, without a solicitor