FOR DON'S DATES JUST SCROLL DOWN - THEY'RE FURTHER DOWN THIS PAGE.
August 08 update to the big red one - as many of you know, Don had major knee surgery a few weeks ago (I'm writing this on August 5th) and is going to be out of action until later this summer. The important thing he is on the mend - and raring to go. But it's going to be a few more weeks yet. Watch this space because as soon as we get a definite return date it'll go up here.
How good is Donald? Well, let me repeat what The Jack the Ripper A to Z - the "bible" of Ripperology - says about Donald.
The A to Z puts it categorically: "Donald Rumbelow is internationally recognised as the leading authority on Jack the Ripper".
And here are the reasons why Donald Rumbelow IS "internationally recognised as the leading authority on Jack the Ripper".
He's the author of the definitive book on the subject, the best-selling The Complete Jack the Ripper.*
He's the former Curator of the City of London Police Crime Museum.
He's a two-time Chariman of the Crime Writers" Association.
He's been the chief consultant for every major television programme and film on the Ripper over the past 20 years. Indeed he's appeared on several of those programmes, including one that recently aired in the United States. And indeed another one is in the pipeline.
Donald was the consultant for the recent Johnny Depp film on the Ripper, called "From Hell...". Indeed, Johnny came to London in order to go on a private Ripper walk with Don.
And I hasten to add, Don's not some dry-as-dust academic...he's an ex-City of London Policeman who pursued a dual career as a crime historian. Which in effect means you're taken over some of the most famous crime scenes in the world by a law enforcement professional who just happens to be the world's leading expert on those particular crimes. Can't be bad.
Okay, here are Don's dates between now (XXXXXX) and XXXXXX.
Don is down to guide the Ripper Walk on...(watch this space:I'm writing this on August 5th - it's going to be a few more weeks yet - but Don is hopeful that he'll be back in action in about six weeks' time. Second half of September - or thereabouts.)
Those dates are definite* but with the usual proviso about the "unforeseen" - i.e., the schedule is subject to Don's not coming down with the flu - or being hit by a bus!
And watch this space for Don's guiding dates from mid-May onward. We'll be updating the "Don calendar" in a month or so.
Donald's Ripper Walk goes at 7.30 pm from just outside the exit of Tower Hill
Tube Stop.
But please do take a look at the further particulars regarding the Ripper Walk - do a search for "Ripper" on our little search engine. Or scroll further down this page...to the section called A Word from David.
Take a look at those further particulars because we spell out there how to make absolutely sure it is Donald you've linked up with - as opposed to what a major American newspaper recently described as "a Ripper ripoff".
Or as The New York Times puts it, "be careful about the Ripper tour, however, since there are imitations...look for [the] one guided by Donald, who is Donald Rumbelow, the author of The Complete Jack the Ripper and a former curator of the notoriously grisly City of London Police Black Museum (a crime museum open by appointment only), credentials that are scary in themselves."
Or in the same vein, here's how Frommer's puts it in London by Night: "London Walks" Ripper Walk has many copycats, but it's the best".
Or here's how the recently published - and wonderful - little guide book: City Secrets - London...the ultimate insider's guide puts it: "Despite initial protestations from visiting friends, they invariably return to my flat in a Victorian frenzy saying, "that [Donald Rumbelow's Jack the Ripper Walk] was the best thing we've done in London"."
*Donald will have some of his books with him in case any of you want one. And needless to say he'll be glad to sign it for you. Makes an unbeatable present for anybody who's got a friend who's interested in the subject.
Three further points:
1) Don will of course be writing the Jack the Ripper chapter in our forthcoming book, London Walks London Stories
2) Well, you'll almost certainly have been across it - because it's the top item in our Latest News section on the front page of www.walks.com - but it surely bears underlining: I'm referring of course to the "Jack the Ripper knife", which is part of Don's collection and which he's lent to the Museum of London for its major new Jack the Ripper Exhibition. Here's the link to the pop-up.