Author, sports writer, and former investigative journalist.

Don Hale OBE is an author, sports and feature writer, and a former investigative journalist, who has written many books about a host of varied subjects. He was a senior journalist for over 40-years and has edited five regional newspapers, in addition to working with the BBC and several national newspapers.

He won a host of regional and national media awards during an extraordinary career, which included the 'Journalist of the Year' prize on three separate occasions, and the prestigious 'What the Papers Say' award. In 2001, he was also the Observer newspaper's 'Man of the Year,' as voted for by readers of their Sunday newspaper.

He retired in 2001 from mainstream media to work as an associate editor of the North Wales Weekly News, and later edited their monthly magazine North Wales Living. 

Don continued to work with many top barristers to provide advice on miscarriage of justice cases and with key research analysis, whilst also writing a succession of best-selling true-life books.
His updated and revised book - Murder in the Graveyard – published in June 2019 by Harper Collins - is a true account of his extensive campaign to successfully overturn the conviction of Stephen Downing, a man jailed in 1973 for a murder he did not commit. He has also narrated the audio version. Don spent over six years on the case and eventually helped to quash Downing's murder conviction. He has since worked on many high-profile cases and human rights campaigns.
Another popular book is the best-seller MALLARD, How the Blue Streak Broke the World Steam Record. His book was used as the basis for a special TV documentary for the Discovery Channel, Channel 4, and National Geographic for Trains, Fast, Faster etc, which examined the development of speed on the railways. Don helped present the programme, and travelled on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, riding in the cab of A4 Sir Nigel Gresley.

Another top-selling genre has been his pop and rock books, The Joe Cocker Story; Sounds of the Sixties, and Club 60 & the Esquire, and latterly his wonderful book - SHERLOCK HOLMES and the Ghost Ship Mystery – which examined a controversial and historic inquiry into the role of Sherlock Holmes creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. 
A more recent book is his fascinating story about Buster Crabb, the brave naval spy who disappeared in mysterious circumstances in 1956 during a visit by Russian warships to the UK. This new book entitled - Buster Crabb - Ian Fleming's favourite spy and the inspiration for James Bond, revealed a massive Cold War cover-up, and revealed many bizarre links to Fleming, his former wartime boss, and identified numerous storylines from Crabb’s own WW2 exploits that were later incorporated into Fleming’s Bond books.

*Although semi-retired, Don continues to produce interesting and exciting books, and now helps other budding authors to publish their works. He also publishes a popular sports and feature blog: donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026

www.donhale.co.uk