Don Hale
Encyclopedia
Don Hale OBE is a British
journalist
.
He was the editor
of the Matlock Mercury
who became involved in the campaign to overturn the murder
conviction of Stephen Downing
. In 1973, Downing, at the time a 17-year-old with the reading age of an 11-year-old, was imprisoned for the murder of Wendy Sewell and served 27 years in jail. The conviction was declared unsafe by the Court of Appeal in 2001 and Downing was released. Hale was voted 2001 Man of the Year by The Observer
newspaper, Journalist of the Year by What the Papers Say
and was made an OBE
for his efforts and campaigning journalism, though he was also criticised for referring to Sewell as the Bakewell Tart.
After a short spell working for the North Wales Pioneer newspaper, Hale later became editor of the newly formed North Wales Living magazine in 2005. Despite a period of outstanding success for this magazine, in which it collected seven national and regional awards, Don Hale was later made redundant in December 2007 following a re-organisation of the company, including the closure of the magazine. He then started his own publishing business launching a new lifestyle magazine for North Wales, Chester and the Cheshire borders called Coast & Country magazine In the autumn of 2008, he also launched a digital advertising company called Ads2Life with in-store displays at several Debenhams stores, in top hotels, and at Venue Cymru
.
During the autumn of 2007, his book about the famous frogman spy mystery 'Buster' Crabb was published by Suttons/The History Press
.
Hale has also published Secrets of the Royal Detective about his great grandfather, James Wood, who was a notable Manchester detective from 1890 to 1914, and was the first Royal Protection Officer acting as a personal bodyguard to the Prince of Wales
, following the loss of Queen Victoria, and continued threats against the monarchy. Don Hale's latest book, Mallard - How the Blue Streak broke the World Speed Record, was released in paperback by Aurum Press
in May 2008 to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the speed record for steam locomotives held by LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
.
He was the editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
of the Matlock Mercury
Matlock Mercury
The Matlock Mercury is a Weekly newspaper published on a Thursday in the United Kingdom which serves Matlock, Darley Dale, Wirksworth, Bakewell and smaller villages in the Derbyshire Dales area of Derbyshire....
who became involved in the campaign to overturn the murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
conviction of Stephen Downing
Stephen Downing
The Stephen Downing case involved the conviction and imprisonment in 1974 of a 17-year-old council worker, Stephen Downing, for the murder of a 32 year old legal secretary, Wendy Sewell, in the town of Bakewell in the Peak District. Following a campaign by a local newspaper, his conviction was...
. In 1973, Downing, at the time a 17-year-old with the reading age of an 11-year-old, was imprisoned for the murder of Wendy Sewell and served 27 years in jail. The conviction was declared unsafe by the Court of Appeal in 2001 and Downing was released. Hale was voted 2001 Man of the Year by The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
newspaper, Journalist of the Year by What the Papers Say
What the Papers Say
What The Papers Say is a BBC radio programme that originally ran for many years on British television.Its first incarnation was the second longest-running programme on British television after Panorama...
and was made an OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
for his efforts and campaigning journalism, though he was also criticised for referring to Sewell as the Bakewell Tart.
After a short spell working for the North Wales Pioneer newspaper, Hale later became editor of the newly formed North Wales Living magazine in 2005. Despite a period of outstanding success for this magazine, in which it collected seven national and regional awards, Don Hale was later made redundant in December 2007 following a re-organisation of the company, including the closure of the magazine. He then started his own publishing business launching a new lifestyle magazine for North Wales, Chester and the Cheshire borders called Coast & Country magazine In the autumn of 2008, he also launched a digital advertising company called Ads2Life with in-store displays at several Debenhams stores, in top hotels, and at Venue Cymru
Venue Cymru
Venue Cymru is a large arts venue in Llandudno, Conwy county borough, north Wales, incorporating a 1,500 seat theatre, restaurant, conference centre and arena. The venue was previously known as the North Wales Theatre and the North Wales Conference Centre....
.
During the autumn of 2007, his book about the famous frogman spy mystery 'Buster' Crabb was published by Suttons/The History Press
The History Press
The History Press is one of the UK’s largest local and specialist history publishers, publishing approximately 500 books per year.Created in December 2007, The History Press has integrated core elements of the NPI Media Group within it, including all existing published titles, plus all the future...
.
Hale has also published Secrets of the Royal Detective about his great grandfather, James Wood, who was a notable Manchester detective from 1890 to 1914, and was the first Royal Protection Officer acting as a personal bodyguard to the Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
, following the loss of Queen Victoria, and continued threats against the monarchy. Don Hale's latest book, Mallard - How the Blue Streak broke the World Speed Record, was released in paperback by Aurum Press
Aurum Press
Aurum Press is an independent English publishing house located in London. It was founded in 1976. Aurum concentrates on non-fiction titles and publishes approximately 75 new books every year. One of its titles in 2009 will be the biography of Neville Staple, vocalist in The Specials, Fun Boy...
in May 2008 to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the speed record for steam locomotives held by LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard
LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard
Number 4468 Mallard is a London and North Eastern Railway Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive built at Doncaster, England in 1938. While in other respects a relatively typical member of its class, it is historically significant for being the holder of the official world speed record for steam...
.