Leonard Parkin's final news bulletin

From 1987, extracts from the final (for the time being) ITN News at One, which was also Leonard Parkin's last bulletin. Includes a report on Margaret Thatcher's visit to the States.

[@fraserkatie]

Leonard Parkin used to live near me! I saw him once walking down the road where I lived and he said hello to me! My aunt used to be a district nurse and look after Leonard's wife and when she said to him that I had said "Parkin, friend" after watching the news when I was little, Leonard Parkin was touched by it! I was only a toddler at the time!

[@JackLongbridge]

Dear old Leonard Parkin. Still my favorite newscaster after all these years. He was calm, understated and in the truest sence of the word a gentleman.

[@arrblue94]

mine too

[@evonne_]

+Alex Robinson Something that you do not see these days with the majority of newscasters.

[@rajnirvan3336]

+Bryan Braddock He was the man and very unique reader and professional

[@grahampearson5670]

Leonard was around 58 when he retired from regular news presenting duties.

[@SANDSCORCHER]

Well said Bryan 👍🏻 As a small child I (understandably) loathed the news. Yet prior to my starting primary school, aged 3 and 4, I would happily watch Mr Parkin’s report religiously every weekday at 1pm. Surely the mark of the man if he could engage folk that would only otherwise have been watching The Magic Roundabout. 👍🏻

[@rajnirvan3336]

Iconic newsreader Leaonard Parkin, he would always says Hello good afternoon whenever news at one began. He always made a point of welcoming the younger viewers as all ITN readers did

[@markrowley1223]

Leonard Parkin was a truly professional journalist, a solid upright Yorkshireman, who never let his own opinions or views intrude into the news. He sadly died too soon after retiring, but to those of us 'of a certain age' he won't be forgotten.

[@standenberg]

Absolutely. He was indeed a solid upright Yorkshireman, the son of a miner born in Thurnscoe, South Yorks (which was a proper close-knit mining area). Mr Parkin never forgot his roots, & will always be remembered as a hardworking professional who always had that genuine northern charisma that appeals to viewers from all over.

[@TRUMPER007]

Leonard Parkin was my favourite News reader - a true professional and from what I've heard a very nice gentleman.

[@Timeplunderer65]

Some people make a lasting impression on our lives and Leonard was just such a person. RIP

[@gordontaylor6272]

Glad to see this bulletin, Leonard was indeed a 'true' and highly-respected newscaster. i was in london on holiday at the time of Charles & Diana's engagement announcement and met Leonard outside the ITN studios. I found him to be very charming and very easy to talk to.

[@dazauto1400]

He was trying to hold back the tears at the end. Still my favourite newscaster of all time.

[@rajnirvan3336]

He was 1 of the very best

[@brucedanton3669]

Thank you for this of course-and well done too. I know he was the favourite newscaster of Huw Edwards, now the BBC's News at Ten pm reader of course, as I think I read in the Radio Times some time ago too. Well done too!

[@NickLotay]

Sadly Leonard passed away in 1993 as a result of spinal cancer. He was one of ITN's best newscasters in my opinion.

[@grahampearson5670]

Leonard was 64 when he died of spinal cancer.

[@ah1701]

Completely agree. He was very good - relaxed reading style, but without any flippancy. RIP Leonard.

[@richardsharpe2966]

Leonard Parkin a great broadcaster and also a great Yorkshire man to

[@glenncooney3959]

Two of my favourite television people: TVS announcer Malcolm Brown and ITN newscaster the late, great Leonard Parkin.

[@TheGothicReptile]

Memories of guessing who would be on at news at one in the late 70's with my mother comes flooding back. Leonard Parkin was great and he taught me a lot with his broadcasts - a damn fine fellow.

[@georgeholland2934]

Very nostalgic. I remember those graphics and the theme tune very clearly from my days before starting primary school.

[@ExScouserExRN]

News at One followed by Crown Court, we certainly new how to live on the edge in those days!

[@JosephBeaver]

Brings back memories, when I was at Primary School in 1980, I refused to go back to school after Lunch unless I watched the News at One whether it be with Leonard Parkin or Peter Sissons.

[@shaunlaws6521]

Leonard Parkin true legend a true proffesinal and still missed to this legend RIP to a wonderfull man and RIP to Peter Sissons another legend also died a true professional another wonderfull great man gone

[@rajnirvan3336]

They were the best newsreaders. They would always make a point of welcoming the younger viewers especially Leonard Parkin

[@user-dp6cw9po5k]

Hard to Believe that This was 37 years ago, R.I.P. Leonard Parkin.

[@poweranglory]

He was a great Newscaster R.I.P. Leonard.

[@lauraparish7167]

I found out recently that he was my Grandfather's cousin so i had to look him up 😂

[@gmgc81]

I was only young when Leonard Parkin retired, but I do remember watching his newscasts on TVS (my old ITV region) and he had a great authority in his delivery of the news. It's sad that there aren't many like him nowadays. RIP Mr Parkin.

[@DaveAndBeth1978]

Remember Leonard Parkin very well... In the 70s and 80s he regularly presented both the News At One (alternating with the late Peter Sissons) and the News At 545 (alternating with the late Michael Nicholson)... All legends, but Leonard was different - he had a kind, laid-back, but no-nonsense authority about him... I always liked how he would make a point a point of welcoming children to the News At One (especially during school holidays)... My Nan absolutely hated being disturbed when Leonard was presenting the News - we weren't allowed to talk when News At One was on!

[@garyhunt8067]

My favourite newsreader. He covered the death of Elvis Presley.

[@brianmarshall4753]

Leonard Parkin RIP 1929- 1993 😢

[@veryphonics]

Reggie Bosanquet, now that was a newsreader.

[@Indul1]

@56postoffice That's amazing...I used to go home for lunch as well!!!!...In primary school back then it was pretty unheard of...I was the only kid in my class that went home for something to eat...I only lived less than a 100 yards from school...memories....

[@56postoffice]

Ahh, the memories. I always used to hear the theme tune when I was a kid. My mum used to bring me home for lunch from school ( I only lived a few yards from my primary school), the TV would be on in the background and you'd hear it.

[@michaelmcdonald2348]

That theme tune takes me right back - home from school for dinner, if I heard that theme (and I did quite often) then I was either late back to school or I'd managed to blag the afternoon off.

[@ashfaq1999]

Brilliant Newscaster.

[@unicentre6967]

broadcast on 17th july 1987,going by the news headlines.

[@DesElmes]

Long-serving newscasters hardly get send-offs like that these days, if at all... RIP Leonard.

[@GLYDR]

Leonard Parkin, what a guy, RIP

[@ChrisLongGBFTE]

He seemed like a gent.

[@trevorkeyes1694]

Very good newsreader sadly missed r.i.p

[@Voxac100b]

Reggie and Leonard were ITN legends

[@brucedanton3669]

And just as good as the BBC's news team at the time too in my view too of course!

[@Voxac100b]

@captaintanfastic Leonard was an excellent newscaster and presenter. Although he retired from newsreading he did host a program called Pieces of Parkin for Yorkshire Television. I would love to see the program.

[@abhudson14]

It wasn't me who gave the bad remarks about Lenoard Parkin it was natechillin. I think Lenoard Parkin was a legend.

[@johnking5174]

The News at 12.30 didn't last long. News at One came back in just over a year. I do not know why ITN moved their bulletin back to 1pm, but the 12.30 slot was brought back in 1992.

[@alexrobinson4802]

+John King it was a joke

[@pak8606]

News at One returned on 28th March 1988, then went back to 12:30 in January 1991. This is 17th July 1987.

[@darren2514fv]

@@pak8606 Returned to 12:30 in January 1991 originally to extend the News at 1/Lunchtime News to 50 minutes because of Gulf War 1 and the move to 12:30 in 1987 was in preparation for ITV relaunching the daytime schedule in the Autumn it went back to 30 minutes after the War but stayed at 12:30 but would be relaunched as the Lunchtime News on 2 March 1992 where it would be extended to a hour when the 1992 General Election was called the 1 hour slot would allow for extra time to cover the mornings developments on the campaign

[@brucedanton3669]

@@darren2514fv And I guess because by then the BBC had put their news on at 1pm also, as they did from 27 October 1986 onwards as part of their daytime schedule, meaning that ITV then decided to show their news not at the same time as on BBC1.

[@peterwilliamskelhorn6675]

​@@brucedanton3669before October 86 the lunchtime bulletin on bbc 1 was news afternoon. But I'm used to it at 1pm. And on itv at 12.30pm it hasn't felt the same since moving to 1.30pm in 2006

[@dopplereffeckt675]

Leonard Parkin a titan from the news room..........and what a brilliant synth tune!

[@philippendleburyplllkkk9460]

Keith Thomas )p

[@jamesnicholson2503]

Brilliant news reader.

[@couleddie]

Rainbow was on at 12.10. Something like Painting With Nancy or a programme about knitting was usually on at 12.30. Or The Young Doctors.

[@brucedanton3669]

Yes that is right of course so too. At 12.30pm ITV showed The Sullivans from what I remember then, or at least it was here in the ITV London-then Thames and LWT region of course. Thank you!

[@brianmarshall4753]

Tony benn RIP 😢

[@Joyousmicor]

17.07.1987

[@shaunlaws6521]

I Remember watching Leonard Parkin.s last ever aditon of News at One I was so sorry to a legend go and disappointed RIP Leonard Parkin Still miss him now

[@Tripp1993]

I meant you're honored!

[@keithe8449]

Great news reader a true gentleman. And Mrs Thatcher, a great World leader who gave Britain serious World clout

[@abhudson14]

Leonard Parkin true legend

[@weewong8367]

A true professional. R.i.p Leonard

[@danielcarter1993]

1929-1993

[@stephenguppy3466]

Ah. Back to the days when newscasters reported the facts, as opposed to airing their views and encouraging endless speculation without any basis in fact. Old school definitely, and the better for it. Also, I am glad he was able to retire with grace and dignity. These days he would probably be sacked by Twitter for being over 50, white and male and replaced before he had the chance to say farewell to the viewers by a black leftie lesbian with a thick regional accent and a chip on both shoulders.

[@daros194]

Well said!