Showing results by author "Don Hale" in All Categories

BRITISH LEGAL HISTORY - The Fielding Brothers & Bow Street Runners - the early days and beginnings of policing in England with the infamous Fielding Brothers, the early Bow Street Runners, Robert Peel, Jerome Caminada, and other brutal crime fighters, covering highway robberies, gruesome murders, street crime and a host of dangerous attacks on society. A fascinating slice of legal history and nostalgia, featuring Victorian & Edwardian Manchester crime.

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 present, and pressured into signing a confession full of words he did not understand.

This is the unique and personal story written by the great grandson of a former Victorian beat ‘Bobby’ who progressed through the ranks to eventually become the very first Royal Detective. James Wood, a former ‘sharp shooter’ in Queen Victoria’s mighty Army of the Empire, joined Manchester City Police force to become the youngest ever Superintendent in their history - and was also a highly acclaimed ‘thief taker,’ something of a bounty-hunter. For many years around the turn of the century, he helped protect a number of prominent VIP’s and several visiting members of the ...

This is the true story about one of the most successful Victorian Detectives, who worked in Manchester between 1868-1899. Many of his stories and case notes were said to have been reviewed by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as the inspiration for his famous Sherlock Holmes character and series of stories. Set in and around the north west, it recalls the harsh brutally of Victorian England and shows how policemen and particularly detectives of that era had to be rough, tough and ruthless to survive. Caminda was feared by villains and carried a silver Colt 38 pistol.

Secrets of the Royal Detective: Self Education for the Police 1899: This amazing document was located in my great grandfather's personal effects about 90 years after his death. He was a former Royal Detective or protection officer - and a detective superintendent with Manchester Police - during the harsh Victorian & Edwardian development of policing in Manchester until 1914. This is a unique guideline for all policing during this period and contains a rare glimpse into what was expected of the policeman of that era. It is in effect a 'Bobbys' Bible' and the contents were expected to be ...

This is a book packed with fascinating facts about The Birth of the British 'Bobby' - Bow Street Runners, Scotland Yard & Victorian Crime, with a large and interesting section on Victorian Policing and associated stories. It includes graphic accounts of life, crime and poverty in Queen Victoria’s British cities with particular emphasis on Manchester and first hand reports from one of the great detectives of that era, Jerome Caminada. It also invites comparisons with Caminada’s stories and those of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his fictional detective character Sherlock Holmes. Mention is ...

This is a unique book about some of the UK’s most notorious child killers over the past 50-60 years and examines their background, their killings, how and why they were caught, and their convictions. It also looks at some potential victims who had a very lucky escape, and at many unsolved murders linked to the five evil and despicable killers highlighted. The book also re-examines fresh evidence that could lead to further convictions against these individuals using the latest DNA, forensic or evidence revelations, and discovers several other unexplained disappearances, and unsolved crimes...

During the early morning of 14th April 1953, HMS Conway, a large 19th century wooden battleship used for the training and education of cadets - hoping to become officers in the Merchant and Royal Navy - was driven ashore and wrecked by exceptionally strong tides, and broke her back in the Menai Straits, Anglesey, North Wales. This is s true story written to commemorate the forthcoming 60th anniversary of the loss of this fine ship.

During the early morning of 14th April 1953, HMS Conway, a large 19th century wooden battleship used for the training and education of cadets - hoping to become officers in the Merchant and Royal Navy - was driven ashore and wrecked by exceptionally strong tides, and broke her back in the Menai Strait. HMS Conway was almost certainly the largest ever ship to attempt to pass through this notoriously demanding stretch of swirling waters known as the ‘Swellies, that separates Anglesey from the mainland, and included a challenging passage under two major bridges. The vessel had an enormous ...

Rock superstar Joe Cocker, first trod the boards at a damp, musty beer cellar, in a run-down old nightclub in Sheffield, England in the early 1960s. The club was run by Cocker's first manager Terry Thornton, who provided financial support to help turn the wayward teenager into a bookable rock singer. The problem with the nightclub - called Club 60 - was that it was haunted, and Cocker and loads of other up and coming household name stars like Elton John, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, the Kinks, John Lee Hooker and a host of others, all had to contend with unexplained bumps in the night and ...

‘An Extraordinary story of innocence and persecution, determination and grit … it had me rattling through the pages’ SOPHIE DRAPER A gripping true crime investigation into the longest miscarriage of justice in British legal history. In September 1973, Stephen Downing was convicted and...

The Jersey Boys and Liberation! Some compelling wartime memories from three remarkable men. By Don Hale. This is the true story of two remarkable Jersey Boys, and an eventual Liberator, who were all teenagers at the start of World War Two, but soon became embroiled in a variety of dramatic events following the Occupation of Jersey in the Channel Islands by German Forces during 1940-45. Joe Miére was a constant thorn in the side of the Nazi invaders and became a political prisoner and resistance leader who was often arrested, jailed, and beaten, for demonstrations, and for anti-German acts ...

A fascinating insight into the life of some famous Manchester Victorians (or Mancunians) - as they were called. They include Arthur Balfour the former Prime Minister, Alfred Harmsworth - later to be known as Lord Northcliffe of newspaper fame, Ned Hulton, Jerome Caminada, and details about the popular Belle Vue Pyrodramas and their re-enactment of some of the great South African battles of Queen Victoria's Army of the Empire. They were sometimes known as 'Fire in the Park' and included parts played by real Zulu's such as Kumalo.

The World of DREAMS is an interesting, informative and easy read guide revealing the background and interpretation to many of your everyday dreams - and even nightmares! It explains how and why we dream, how often we dream, how long we dream for, and whether babies, young children or even animals dream? It confirms how why you should always record and interpret your own dreams, before they are forgotten. In addition, it examines the daydream, the lucid dream, nightmares, a fear of falling, being chased, or of appearing naked. It also tackles a fear of flying, dying, de-ja-vue, and confirms ...

A fascinating account of a memorable challenge to win a £10,000 prize for the first plane to fly from London to Manchester in April 1910. This was indeed a hazardous feat in that era with numerous problems incurred for the rich, brave or famous. This is a true account of the daring deeds selected by a chosen few - and all eager to pocket a fabulous purse and a place in the record books. This report shows the personal and public response to a fantastic race.

Don Hale OBE is an author, sports writer, and former investigative journalist. This book is a combination of fun, fitness ideas, and sporting recollections.First written in 1986, it includes some fascinating and amusing recollections from Don’s early sporting career as an athlete and as a former professional footballer with Bury FC, combined with his experiences of trying to keep fit, and running, amidst a very busy and controversial career in journalism. This book recalls his early struggles to prepare and run a series of fun-runs, competitive races, and eventually marathons. The journey...