Parkrun Global is under growing pressure from hundreds of its own volunteers to remove David Dinsmore, former editor of The Sun, from its board.
By this morning nearly 500 people had signed a letter protesting about Dinsmore’s appointment, including regular runners, event marshals and event directors.
But he seems determined to stay on as a trustee, having today released a statement about the “inspiring” charity and urged runners and volunteers to “say hello” at his local Parkrun.
And he has the backing of his boss Gavin Megaw, chair of Parkrun’s trustees, who said Dinsmore would bring “deep expertise” to the board.
The letter says Dinsmore’s connections to the tabloid and to Rupert Murdoch’s News UK, where he is chief operating officer, “demonstrated values and behaviours contrary to those of the Parkrun community”.
It was organised by Roger Wilson, a director of Parkrun before it became a charity.
Megaw published his own letter, saying Dinsmore was “one of the most outstanding candidates” to the charity’s recent trustee recruitment.
Megaw stressed that the process had been “fit and proper” and said all due diligence had been followed.
The exchange comes after Parkrun announced an overhaul of its trustee board on Monday, when Dinsmore was named along with six other figures including former deputy chief medical officer Sir Jonathan Van-Tam and Sonya Byers, boss of Women in Transport.
On Tuesday Danny Norman, who used to work for Parkrun and now co-hosts With Me Now, a podcast about the initiative, described Dinsmore’s appointment as “a very strange choice that leaves a small stain on Parkrun’s reputation”.
Norman also urged Parkrun volunteers to let the charity explain its reasons for the appointment.
Wilson’s letter calls on the board to remove Dinsmore and says: “We are extremely concerned that the good image of Parkrun is damaged by nominating David Dinsmore as a new trustee.
“The nomination will put off some runners and volunteers from being involved in Parkrun and make it harder for local volunteers to get the support of some local stakeholders and landowners.”
It adds that “as a former editor of The Sun newspaper and still in the employ of News UK, David Dinsmore has demonstrated values and behaviour contrary to those of the Parkrun community of inclusion of all groups, including body shapes”.
Dinsmore was editor of The Sun between 2013 and 2015. The paper ran pictures of topless women for much of this period, but he was still in charge when the newspaper dropped the practice in January 2015.
Replying, Megaw says: “I feel compelled to remind you that Parkrun is for all, including people who read, watch or listen to News UK outlets.
“They may not be everyone’s outlets of choice, but they are for many people in this country.
“We do not challenge people on their political choices at Parkrun. We are a health charity. It is vital that our board is not 10 people of the same background, nor worldview.”
Dinsmore told Third Sector: “I’ve been a proud and passionate Parkrunner for many years, both running and volunteering.
“The Parkrun community is truly inspiring, inclusive and amazing. It’s a privilege to be joining such a talented board of trustees, and lending my contribution to the charity as it embarks on an ambitious five-year plan.”
Dinsmore added that he regularly ran at Littlehampton Prom Parkrun and hoped to meet plenty of fellow runners there.