Potted biog
I was born in Wirral - less than five miles from the Welsh border. Occasionally I tell people I come from Cilgwri (the Welsh name for the Wirral), which always causes confusion as it's not a name everyone has come across. One person I met thought it was up in the hills near Wrexham.
I've wanted to work in broadcasting since my dad took me to a BBC exhibition when I was 11. So after doing French and Linguistics at university, I did a course in radio and TV journalism. There was a work experience placement during the course, and my girlfriend suggested I come and stay with her in Essex and so it with the BBC there. My luck was in, as the placement turned into a job. The good fortune didn't last, mind you, as I split up with my girlfriend six weeks after starting work down there.
But I stayed in South East England, working for BBC London TV, and later BBC South East in Tunbridge Wells. In 2003 I moved to Wales to work for Radio Wales as the reporter for Conwy, Gwynedd and Anglesey. I live in Conwy and I'm based in Bangor.
In my spare time I like walking in the mountains of Snowdonia and France, conservation work and juggling. I can juggle the contents of the fruit bowl in the BBC canteen without bruising them - not that the staff are impressed. I'm also a volunteer train guard on the Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog) a narrow gauge steam railway.
Answers to other key questions: tomato ketchup rather than brown sauce, cats rather than dogs (but guinea pigs are better), salad cream rather than mayonnaise.
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your comments
We're making some changes to the sites shortly and although this form will be closing, you will have other opportunities to contribute on our new-look site.
Maria Cooke, Cheshire
Where's Sparky the Tram? ;)
Tue Nov 8 21:55:25 2005
Chris Murden
Nice one Dearden on getting your own Adrian Mole style column. Have you got any of those nice soft fruits you used to buy after school!
Wed Jan 19 08:17:28 2005
Andy Parker from The Wirral
Does the BBC Wales Station Manager have it in for our friend Mr. Dearden? Last week it was gnomes, this week it was egg whites. Does the station manager sit in the pub with his friends thinking
up the most inane stories for our intrepid reporter to investigate? Is this what we're paying our license fees for? Inquiring minds wish to know.
Wed Oct 6 15:53:51 2004
Andy Carter, Taunton
Sounds like somebody else suffering from JIT (Just In Time) syndrome (Diary Week 3): I find that if I leave in reasonable time to go somewhere I'm always 5 minutes late. If I go 5 minutes earlier I end up waiting for half an hour.
By the way, do you prefer your guinea pigs with salad cream or tomato ketchup?
Thu Aug 26 11:10:15 2004
Jude Gill, Cardiff
The bad time keeping must mean you're a good guy - my dad has the same 'problem', it's a family joke that you have to shave at least 15 minutes off every time to be somewhere so he gets there on time! And dad is a great guy!
Fri Aug 13 01:57:51 2004
Denis Clarke from Oldham via Melbourne
You can always tell a good guy - he's the one who prefers cats to dogs. Good on yer, Sport. You're definitely a goody. I wondered who it was, offering his last swig of 4X to the WHR cat in the heatwave last weekend. I guess I know now. That's real sacrifice that is. Yep, Chris is a real bonzer guy.
Tue Jul 6 22:54:05 2004
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BBC Radio Wales local reporter Chris Dearden will be writing a regular weblog, giving you the inside story on working for Good Morning Wales and Good Evening Wales.
