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More gongs for Don!

Matlock Mercury editor Don Hale has been presented with two more awards.

One is the prestigious Freedom of the Press award at the London Press Awards, the other is for boosting the prestige of the Midlands.

He successfully campaigned for the release from prison of convicted murderer Stephen Downing, who has always protected his innocence.

Downing is now awaiting his appeal hearing after spending 21 years in jail for a crime he says he did not commit. Hale’s camapaign took six years.

Judges at the London ceremony said he is a local paper editor to be proud of.

He was also one of three people being honoured as Midlanders of the Year.

Don Hale lined up alongside Inspector Morse author Colin Dexter and Olympic heptathlete Denise Lewis at the ICC in Birmingham to collect his latest award.

The award, which ran until 1999, has been relaunched with the backing of Carlton TV, which broadcasts from Birmingham.

The honour of Midlander of the Year is given to people who have increased the region’s prestige in the previous 12 months.

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