Tributes to Harry... a true Yorkshire legend
6 TV PRESENTER DIES AGED 71
YORKSHIRE news’ most famous face, Harry Gration, has died aged 71.
The BBC announced the sad news on Friday night in a heart-warming statement towards journalist Harry, who was one of the main presenters for BBC Yorkshire.
Bradford-born TV presenter Harry was made an MBE for services to broadcasting in 2013.
He was father to six children from his three marriages.
They include three with third wife Helen. Their youngest son Hamilton was born in 2020.
Harry was originally a history teacher and then moved into TV. He was educated in York and began his broadcast career as a rugby league commentator for the BBC.
Harry also reported on Match of the Day and Grandstand and commentated on several Olympic and Commonwealth Games.
He joined the BBC full time in 1978 and later became Yorkshire news’ most famous face for regional news programme Look North, where he worked until his last appearance on Look North, on October 21, 2020. He was also a regular on the after-dinner circuit which included hosting the Huddersfield Examiner Business Awards and Examiner School Awards several times.
Harry welcomed his youngest child into the world at the age of 69 with his wife Helen, 51, at the time.
Helen, decided that she wanted another child after the couple sent their two teenage sons off to university.
The couple, who lived in York, used an egg donor and travelled to Cyprus in order to have IVF treatment.
The Look North presenter revealed that he was subjected to cruel online abuse for being “too old” for a new baby when they announced their news to the world.
But his wife, with whom he also has twin boys, said that she was ‘not ready for motherhood to end yet’ and Mr Gration insisted ‘I can change a nappy at 69.’
He tweeted, at the time, hitting back at the online trolls: ‘In truth it is my wife and twin boys who are the ones to admire in all of this. They give me the strength to challenge those who say I am mad.’
In a later interview he said: “Yes the decision we have made, we cannot deny is controversial.
“The main negativity has come from other older men who don’t get it, as well as some members of my family.
“It’s funny how some of my family have said I am too old, but not said the same to Helen, its just me. People ask about my bucket list and say you can’t do those things now - and I say why not? “We weren’t going to go through with the decision until the twins agreed.”
He left the BBC in October 2020 just one day before his 70th birthday.
Leaving behind the broadcasting career he had dedicated his life to, he said events such as the death of Jo Cox, the Bradford riots, the Hillsborough disaster and recent flooding in Yorkshire had “always affected me”.
In 2020 he became vice-president of The Yorkshire Society, a not-for-profit organisation that promotes all things Yorkshire. He had also been chairman of the Yorkshire Tourist Board Tourism Awards and was a deputy lieutenant of North Yorkshire.
Harry was a true Yorkshire legend, a brilliant journalist and a talented broadcaster
Christine Talbot