22 August 19, 2018 Travel

MY HOLS THE MICHAEL KIT LIST

PARKINSON Travel gadgets He wasn’t cut out for the Congo, but beat tried and tested. all-comers at beach cricket at Scarborough By Chris Haslam 360-DEGREE The first time I went on a Scarborough, which my father chose plane was during my primarily because it had beaches suitable National Service, when I for playing cricket on. We would go away CAMERAS worked in the army’s public- during Feast Week in August and relations department. We flew on a DC-3 stay in a boarding house. We weren’t to Cyprus. It was a bumpy and alarming allowed into our room between 9am and experience, but I’ve travelled on many 6pm, so I remember long rainy hours planes since. spent in a bus shelter down the road In 1999, I took Mary on Concorde for waiting to be let back in. We weren’t make it up the stairs. Everyone thought he our 40th wedding anniversary. Many of beaten at beach cricket for many years — was drunk at the time. the pilots belonged to Wentworth golf but my father was a terrible cheat. GOLD Being severely bitten by bed bugs on a club, so the plane would do a little Family holidays when our boys A young Michael with his 747 on my way from London to Australia waggle of the wings when it flew over were small included visits to parents in Scarborough via Singapore in 1979 certainly wasn’t the course. In those days, they Cornwall and Salcombe, in Devon, among my most pleasant travel allowed people into the cockpit. I saw and to Marbella, Spain, with experiences. In those days, the upper deck the entire east coast of America Jimmy Tarbuck. We would stay in had a small bedroom, where I was trying to beneath me, and space ahead. It was friends’ villas and play golf. We sleep. When I discovered the unwelcome sensationally romantic. When had some hilarious times. insects, the PR for the airline arranged to we disembarked, there were Jimmy is so funny and still a Sir Michael Parkinson, 83 — meet me in a Rolls-Royce and took me to no steps downwards. You good friend. “Parky” — was born near the Raffles Hotel by way of compensation. stepped straight into this One of the best holidays Barnsley, and worked for the They put up a sign saying “Welcome luxurious lounge complete we ever had was to Guardian and the Norman Parkinson”. Not the PR’s best day. with its own customs. Phoenix, in Arizona, before going on Now I’m older, all that queuing up and My stint as a war reporter where we stayed at a golf to host his chat show, waiting around in airports dissuades me wasn’t something to which I hotel. Sadly, it was Parkinson, TV-am and Desert from going away. Mary and I go for the was suited. I was sent to the marred as it was where we Island Discs. By his estimate, occasional short trip to stay in a nice hotel Congo by the Daily Express, witnessed the first he has interviewed more than in the UK. With family close by and living which was terrifying, and I manifestation of the 2,000 celebrities. He lives in in a beautiful part of the world, there is no also covered the Six Day War terrible brain disease — Bray, , with his wife, real reason to escape from it. for the BBC. I’m a runner, not a progressive supranuclear Mary. They have three sons We may go to Australia for fighter and I didn’t want to palsy — that eventually took and eight grandchildren. His the next Ashes tour, though. become the subject of a my great friend Dudley theatre show, An Evening with telegram home. Moore. He’d come to do a Sir Michael Parkinson, tours Holidays as a child were often to little concert and he couldn’t from September 1. Interview by Roz Lewis

COMPETITION WIN A LUXURY BREAK FOR TWO IN THE YORKSHIRE DALES

viaduct, 317 yards long, more informal Brasserie. It WITH THE curved and with 27 arches. must be taken before There is a heritage railway December 20, 2018, subject DEVONSHIRE two miles to the west, to availability. enthuses friend. So that Devonshire Hotels & ARMS AT means east. The original line Restaurants is offering opened in 1858. Sunday Times readers 10% BOLTON ABBEY Later, we make for a off all rates at any of its second town, 16 miles to its properties until March 31, south. (My south: not NCF’s.) 2019 (excluding Christmas WHERE WAS I? It is noted for its school, and New Year’s Eve), if booked established during the 16th before August 31. For more I’m in a mischievous mood. century. Old boys include a details, or to book a room, So I’ve brought Navigationally diarist (expelled; died 2007) call 01756 718111, quoting Challenged Friend (reads noted for society gossip. the reference Times10. maps upside down) to this Friend, however, wishes to village. It was the birthplace see the castle that dates of a naval officer — ergo from 1594. Thus, he issues HOW TO ENTER navigator — in 1724. He was (wrong) instructions. Sure, Duchess of Devonshire, Only one entry per person, appointed captain of the it’s a castle but this one, THE QUESTIONS it is one of the finest at thesundaytimes.co.uk/ Jamaica in 1754. “I’ll bet he 12th century, is ruined. “I’m 1 What is the name of the country-house hotels in the wherewasi by Wednesday. didn’t get lost,” I quip. NCF never doing this again,” he first town? north, and is the perfect base Normal Times Newspapers harrumphs as he tells me to whines, realising his mistake. 2 Who was the diarist? to explore the rugged moors, rules apply. No correspondence motor southwest to a small The castle he wants, still very with the 12th-century ruins will be entered into. town. This, I know, means much intact, is a cannon’s of Bolton Priory providing a northeast, thus, eight crow- blast south. It was built by an THE PRIZE dramatic backdrop. Paul miles later we reach the adventurer and navigator The winner and a guest will Leonard, lately of the LAST WEEK’S PRIZE birthplace of a department- par excellence (born circa stay for two nights in a Michelin-starred Isle of Eriska, The answers are store owner, born in 1836 1552). To which status I superior four-poster room is the new head chef, and two Walthamstow and Johnny (parents: John and Elizabeth). know my Navigationally at the Devonshire Arms Hotel dinners for two (excluding Dankworth. Blah But it’s architecture that has Challenged Friend will rise & Spa, at Bolton Abbey drinks) are included in the blah drawn me here, which is why some day. In my dreams. (thedevonshirearms.co.uk). prize, one at the Burlington blah we seek out a disused railway Chris Fautley Owned by the Duke and restaurant, the other at the blah.