Monday 6 February 2012

Parky to speak at Journalists' Charity Brum lunch


Sir Michael Parkinson, who is celebrating his 60th year in journalism, is to be the guest speaker at a fund-raising event in Birmingham for the Journalists’ Charity.

Sir Michael has agreed to be this year’s celebrity guest at the charity’s annual lunch at The Botanical Gardens, Edgbaston, on Friday 22nd June.

The charity, formerly known as the Newspaper Press Fund, has been holding the lunch in Birmingham since 1993, raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for journalists in need. Previous speakers have included Sir Richard Branson, Sir Trevor MacDonald, Chris Tarrant, Jasper Carrott, Kate Adie and Greg Dyke.

Sir Michael started his working life aged 16 on local newspapers in Yorkshire before joining the Manchester Guardian and later the Daily Express. His early broadcasting career began as a current affairs producer at Granada Television.

Sir Michael said: “I am very much looking forward to speaking at the Journalists’ Charity lunch on 22nd June as I am celebrating 60 years in journalism.”

Laurie Upshon, the charity’s regional chairman, added: “We have always managed to attract top quality speakers to our Birmingham lunch – and they don’t come any more popular than Sir Michael. We’re very grateful that he has agreed to be with us. It’s a great coup and I am confident that it will be sold out very quickly.”

Tickets for the lunch cost £45, which includes a three-course meal, and a 10% discount is available for tables of ten booked before the end of April at £400. After April, all tickets cost £45.

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