Harry Gration has died.

[High Dyke]

BBC News - Harry Gration: Ex-BBC Look North presenter dies, aged 71

Harry Gration: Ex-BBC Look North presenter dies, aged 71

The 71-year-old broadcaster's wife pays tribute to her husband, saying "he will forever be with us".

www.bbc.co.uk

Harry Gration, the former presenter of BBC Yorkshire's Look North news programme, has died suddenly, aged 71.

Mr Gration joined the BBC in 1978 and Look North in 1982. He presented his last show in 2020.

 

[Gloster]

He was also on BBC South Today for a while.

 

[swt_passenger]

He was also on BBC South Today for a while.

Yes, from 95-99, just checked.

 

[DelayRepay]

This made me sad. Until he retired he'd been presenting Look North for as long as I've been alive, apart from those few years he spent down south. I've never met him but I feel like I knew him, because of how often he was in our living room at tea time.

 

[Whistler40145]

A legend and a well respected journalist

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

His voice may well live on as it is used for the Harrogate Bus Company's on-board announcements. I always liked his presentational style as well his enthusiastic reporting on Yorkshire based sports teams. His unexpected death is indeed sad news.

 

[theblackwatch]

I can only echo the comments already posted, he has been 'part of the furniture' at home (both at my parents when growing up, and then at my own place) for as long as I can remember. When the new '36' buses were introduced in Harrogate, I did a trip to Leeds and spent the first 10/15 minutes thinking "I know that voice" and then it clicked. RIP.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Very sad news. Harry was a Yorkshire institution, and like others have said above was a daily virtual guest in homes across the county for decades. He was adept at making that tricky 'regional news' transition from a serious story to a fluff piece about the Scarecrow Festival in Emley, without making it awkward. His banter with Paul Hudson the weatherman was often unexpectedly funny too- not always intentionally perhaps!

RIP

 

[northernchris]

Was a shock to read this earlier, a true legend has been taken. I briefly met him a few years ago and he was really down to earth. Thinking of his family and friends at this awful time

 

[johntea]

The news has completely knocked me for six

I actually met him once when I was about 6 years old, Look North were doing (from vague memory) a Internet taster day from a caravan parked up near the city walls in York and Harry was there, I still have a VHS tape somewhere where I'm featured for a brief second, I must try and dig that out now

He was such a great supporter of all things Yorkshire and Paul Hudson will be absolutely gutted too I'm sure as they did a lot of charity events together...literally!

"That's as far as we go"

 

[Gloster]

...He was adept at making that tricky 'regional news' transition from a serious story to a fluff piece about the Scarecrow Festival in Emley, without making it awkward...

RIP

This was one of those things I noticed about him when he was at Southampton. He was, in my opinion, a proper journalist, rather than the ‘failed actor’ types who often seem to end up behind the presentation desk.

 

[WY Bus Spotter]

Met Harry on occasions when he was doing work as a corporate speaker. A real gentleman, not like a fair few who come across as pleasant on screen but are not as nice in the flesh.

Rest in Peace.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Presenter of "The Super League Show" on BBC for many years (1999-2011).

 

[Jamesrob637]

R.I.P Harry. I remember him when Jeremy Clarkson was driving crashing the Reliant.

 

[ChrisC]

Although most of his career has been with Look North in Leeds, the very fact that his death has been reported so widely on the national news, reflects how respected he was. I can’t think of that many other presenters on regional tv who who’s death would be so widely reported. Going back many years I really used to enjoy it when he presented Look North with Judith Stamper.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Although most of his career has been with Look North in Leeds, the very fact that his death has been reported so widely on the national news, reflects how respected he was. I can’t think of that many other presenters on regional tv who who’s death would be so widely reported. Going back many years I really used to enjoy it when he presented Look North with Judith Stamper.

The only one that comes close is Granada's Tony Wilson, though more for his "side gig" of running Factory Records and introducing the world to Joy Division and the Happy Mondays.

 

[Ediswan]

Although most of his career has been with Look North in Leeds, the very fact that his death has been reported so widely on the national news, reflects how respected he was. I can’t think of that many other presenters on regional tv who who’s death would be so widely reported.

Fred Dinenage might.

 

[Ianigsy]

Although most of his career has been with Look North in Leeds, the very fact that his death has been reported so widely on the national news, reflects how respected he was. I can’t think of that many other presenters on regional tv who who’s death would be so widely reported.

Stuart Hall will be…..

Gordon Burns also might.

 

[Trackman]

Stuart Hall will be…..

Gordon Burns also might.

Was Tony Wilson's? I guess so with Factory records, he was a long time presenter on Granada reports before this all happened and still presented now and again up the end.

Fred Dinenage might.

Of course, How, WOS, the list is endless and he is still working I think. He'll outlive us all!!

 

[Gareth]

Possibly Lucy Meacock at this point, too.

 

[DunsBus]

Not forgetting Richard Whiteley. Like Harry, a proud Yorkshireman and well-known nationally as well as locally.

 

[Madge Wildfire]

BBC News - Harry Gration: Ex-BBC Look North presenter dies, aged 71

Harry Gration: Ex-BBC Look North presenter dies, aged 71

The 71-year-old broadcaster's wife pays tribute to her husband, saying "he will forever be with us".

www.bbc.co.uk

Poor chap. He didn't get much of a retirement, as he only left the BBC local news team when he was 70.

 

[DelayRepay]

Poor chap. He didn't get much of a retirement, as he only left the BBC local news team when he was 70.

I got the impression that he loved presenting Look North and didn't want to leave.

I am sure I read that some of the older regional news presenters were 'persuaded' to retire as part of BBC cost saving measures.

A special Look North tonight, available on the iPlayer until tomorrow's edition replaces it.

BBC One - Look North (Yorkshire), Evening News, In Memory of Harry Gration

BBC Look North celebrates and remembers the life of legendary presenter Harry Gration.

www.bbc.co.uk

Good night Mr Yorkshire

 

[EbbwJunction1]

One of the Test Match Special presenters paid a very nice tribute to him before the start of play on either Friday or Saturday.

The Yorkshire CCC people at Headingly had put his photo on the big screen and made an announcement of his death and, I guess, some form of tribute, and this was echoed by TMS. Apparently he loved cricket and was a great friend of (and very helpful to) many of the broadcasters.

 

[DarloRich]

that is very sad news.

he wasn't my Look North presenter ( we didn't get Yorkshire) but he was a voice covering big sporting events over the years.

 

[SuspectUsual]

He was the special guest at the annual fete in a village I used to live in. Maybe 15 years ago. He was lovely, happily chatting to anyone and everyone who wanted to speak with him, ended up staying for about five hours which displeased whichever it was of his twin sons who was with him