Hundreds line the streets for funeral of veteran TV presenter Harry Gration: Mourners pay their respects to BBC star after his death aged 71 as his sons pay moving tribute saying ‘we are so honoured he was part of our lives’
- The father-of-six, who was awarded an MBE in 2013, died suddenly on June 24, after which tributes flooded in
- Crowds gathered outside the front of York Minster in York well before the service was due to start at 11.30am
- Former cricket umpire Dickie Bird and former Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu were among attendees
- Mr Gration’s wife Helen, 53, thanked people for coming to the service, adding that it meant a lot to the family
- Mr Gration joined the BBC in 1978 and Look North in 1982, standing down from the role in 2020
Hundreds lined the streets for the funeral of veteran TV presenter Harry Gration this morning, after the father-of-six died suddenly on June 24, aged 71.
Mourners have been paying their respects to the BBC star, with crowds gathering outside the front of York Minster in York well before the thanksgiving service was due to start at 11.30am.
Former cricket umpire Dickie Bird, former Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu and former Yorkshire cricketer Geoffrey Boycott were among those in attendance.
Former fellow presenter Christa Ackroyd, ITV Calendar presenter Christine Talbot and the Labour MP for Batley and Spen Kim Leadbeater were also all at York minster this morning.
During the service, Mr Gration’s sons paid a moving tribute to their ‘incomparable’ and ‘extraordinary’ father.
Hundreds lined the streets for the funeral of veteran TV presenter Harry Gration today, after the father-of-six died suddenly on June 24, aged 71
In a speech, sons Harrison and Harry said, ‘We are so thankful and so honoured to have dad as part of our lives.’ Mr Gration’s wife Helen, 53, thanked attendees for coming, adding that it meant a lot to the family
Mourners have been paying their respects to the BBC star, with crowds gathering outside the front of York Minster in York well before the thanksgiving service was due to start at 11.30am
Mr Gration welcomed his and his third wife Helen’s (pictured) third child Harrison in 2019, when he was 68 and she was 50. He also has three children from two previous marriages
In a speech, sons Harrison and Harry said, ‘We are so thankful and so honoured to have dad as part of our lives.’
Mr Gration’s wife Helen, 53, thanked attendees for coming, adding that it meant a lot to the family.
‘We know that to everyone Harry was a friend, and we know that we shared him with many. But to us, he was husband, dad, and daddy, and we loved him totally,’ she said.
‘He hoped he might fill a pew or two at our local church. He worried always that it might conflict with a match on the telly. So, I can sense him assessing today with some embarrassment but also some bashful pride. Modesty was always his go-to place,’ she added.
Mr Gration welcomed his and his third wife Helen’s third child Harrison in 2019, when he was 68 and she was 50. He also has three children from two previous marriages.
‘Our three boys and I loved Harry totally. We had an awful lot of fun with him and our home was his life,’ Mrs Gration has previously said.
Dr John Sentamu also thanked everybody for attending the service and went on to describe Mr gration as a ‘very dear friend’.
The former Archbishop of York said, ‘It is very fitting to hold this on Yorkshire Day as he loved Yorkshire.’
He spoke of Mr Gration telling him just a few weeks before his death that he hoped to make a pilgrimage to Israel to ‘walk in the footsteps of Jesus’.
‘When I learnt about his death, I said: “Cheeky Gration. He has now, in a greater light, walked in death in the footsteps of Jesus”,’ said Dr Sentamu today.
The 71-year-old was born in Bradford and began his career at the BBC by filing match reports for the BBC – at the same time working as a history teacher in the mid-1970s.
Mr Gration (pictured here with Ms Garcia), the former presenter of BBC Yorkshire’s Look North news programme, joined the corporation in 1978 and Look North in 1982, and stood down from the role in 2020
Mr Gration was awarded an MBE in 2013, and has won two Royal Television Society awards for sports documentaries. He also won the RTS Best Presenter award on two occasions
Amy Garcia of BBC Yorkshire fought back tears as she announced the sudden death of her colleague at age 71 live on air on June 24. She told viewers live from Wakefield that the whole team at Look North were ‘absolutely devastated’ by the news
Mr Gration joined the corporation in 1978 and Look North in 1982, standing down from the role in 2020.
He was awarded an MBE in 2013, and has won two Royal Television Society awards for sports documentaries. He also won the RTS Best Presenter award on two occasions.
Amy Garcia of BBC Yorkshire fought back tears when she announced the sudden death of her colleague while live on air, telling viewers from Wakefield that the whole team at Look North were ‘absolutely devastated’ by the news.
Fittingly, Ms Garcia alongside fellow BBC Look North presenter Keeley Donovan paid tribute to Mr Gration at the service today.
At the time of his death, tributes flooded in from other broadcasters including BBC’s Clive Myrie, LBC’s James O’Brien and Channel 5’s Dan Walker who called him a ‘true gent’ and a ‘brilliant’ presenter.
LBC’s James O’Brien tweeted: ‘I don’t think any broadcasters build a bond with their audience as strong as the ones built by long serving presenters of regional news.
‘They are part of the furniture when you’re at home and part of home when you’re not. Harry Gration embodied this. Thank you and good night.’
Channel 5’s Dan Walker, who used to work at the BBC said: ‘Harry would often call to talk and once, I’d been hammered in the press for something, he called with the kindest and most helpful words of encouragement. He cared.
‘He was brilliant to work with, wonderful to watch and just a true gentleman. He will be missed by many.’
BBC presenter Clive Myrie also called Harry Gration a ‘brilliant broadcaster.’
Dr John Sentamu thanked everybody for attending the service and went on to describe Mr gration as a ‘very dear friend’
The back page of the order of service at the service of thanksgiving for BBC presenter Harry Gration at York Minster in York
Former Yorkshire cricketer Geoffrey Boycott (pictured) arriving at the thanksgiving service
The corporation’s director general Tim Davie paid tribute to the late presenter: ‘Harry Gration MBE was an outstanding broadcaster and commentator.
‘He had a real connection with the public who saw him as one of their own. Loved everywhere, but especially in Yorkshire, he will be hugely missed by his many fans and friends. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.’
Jason Horton, acting director of BBC England, described Gration as ‘one of the true broadcasting greats’.
‘He was a natural on the television and on radio, adored by our audiences, especially as the trusted face of Look North and South Today,’ he added.
‘He loved news, sport, his colleagues and fundraising for Children in Need and Comic Relief. Our thoughts are with his family, his friends and everyone across the BBC who he worked with.’
Huddersfield Town FC said in a statement: ‘Everyone at HTFC is devastated to learn about the passing of Harry Gration. A true friend to the Club over many years and a true legend of broadcasting across Yorkshire. Our deepest condolences to his family and friends.’
People gather outside at the service of thanksgiving for the veteran BBC presenter
Labour MP for Batley and Spen, Kim Leadbeater arrives at a service of thanksgiving for BBC presenter Harry Gration at York Minster in York
Former fellow presenter Christa Ackroyd (pictured right), ITV Calendar presenter Christine Talbot (pictured left) and the Labour MP for Batley and Spen Kim Leadbeater were also all at York minster this morning
Former cricket umpire Dickie Bird (pictured left), former Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu (pictured right) and former Yorkshire cricketer Geoffrey Boycott were among those in attendance
Leeds United said on Twitter: ‘Harry Gration was a magnificent journalist and a pillar of our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with Helen and Harry’s family. Rest in Peace, Harry.’
Speaking after it was announced he was leaving the BBC in 2020, Mr Gration said: ‘I’ve interviewed every prime minister since Margaret Thatcher, covered every major Look North story even at the expense of my holidays, and I wouldn’t have changed a thing.
‘I’ve always lived the story. Horrendous events such as the devastating news of Jo Cox’s death, the disastrous floods of recent times, the Bradford riots, Hillsborough, have always affected me. They were always an assault on my county.
‘Stand-out moments include raising over £800,000 on a tandem, pushing a sofa and being tied to Paul: three challenges my body will never forget.’
He was also a deputy lieutenant of North Yorkshire and charity champion who regularly ran a 10K for charity in York.
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