He won the RTS Best Presenter award twice. He covered nine Olympic Games for the BBC and won two Royal Television Society (RTS) awards for his sports documentaries: White Rose In Africa in 1992 and Dickie Bird: A Rare Species In 1997. He also spent a stint working on BBC South Today in the 1990s. Mr Gration joined the corporation in 1978 and Look North in 1982, standing down from the role in 2020. She told viewers live from Wakefield that the whole team at Look North were 'absolutely devastated' by the news 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.Īmy 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. It sat before the altar next to a table covered by Gration's multiple awards and honours and with a floral tribute spelling out 'Dad'. He has now, in a greater light, walked in death in the footsteps of Jesus',' said Dr Sentamu today.Įarlier Mrs Gration, Harrison and Harvey followed the coffin, which was carried into the centre of the Minster through the Great West Door, decked with white flowers. 'When I learnt about his death, I said: 'Cheeky Gration.

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'. The former Archbishop of York said, 'It is very fitting to hold this on Yorkshire Day as he loved Yorkshire.' He also has three children from two previous marriages.įamily, colleagues and friends including cricket legends Sir Geoffrey Boycott and Dickie Bird have been paying their respects to the late BBC starĭr John Sentamu also thanked everybody for attending the service and went on to describe Mr Gration as a 'very dear friend and fellow traveller'. Mrs Gration said their young son Hammie was 'his last gift'. Mr Gration and his third wife Helen welcomed their third child Hamilton in 2019, when he was 68 and she was 50. Modesty was always his go-to place,' she added. So, I can sense him assessing today with some embarrassment but also some bashful pride. He worried always that it might conflict with a match on the telly. 'He hoped he might fill a pew or two at our local church. But to us, he was husband, dad, and daddy, and we loved him totally,' she said. 'We know that to everyone Harry was a friend, and we know that we shared him with many. Mr Gration's wife Helen, 53, thanked attendees for coming, adding that it meant a lot to the family.

In a speech, sons Harrison, who sang At The River by Aaron Copeland during the service, and Harry said, 'We are so thankful and so honoured to have dad as part of our lives.' Mrs Gration said their young son Hammie was 'his last gift' Mr Gration and his third wife Helen (pictured) welcomed their third child Harrison in 2019, when he was 68 and she was 50.

Bbc news presenters