Harry Gration
{{Short description|English journalist and broadcaster (1950–2022)}}
{{use British English|date=September 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Harry Gration
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE|DL}}
| image = File:On Air in two minutes (7780411780)e.jpg
| caption = Gration making final adjustments before going on air, 2012
| birth_name = Harry John Gration{{cite news |last=Hayward |first=Anthony |date=26 June 2022 |title=Harry Gration obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/jun/26/harry-gration-obituary |access-date=27 June 2022 |newspaper=The Guardian}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1950|10|22|df=y}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|06|24|1950|10|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = Bradford, England
| known_for = Television presenter, journalist
| years active = 1978-2022
| spouse = {{ubl|{{marriage|Hilary Gardner|1974|end=divorced}}|{{marriage|Rowena Cluness|1984|end=divorced}}|{{marriage|Helen Chene|2001}}}}
| children = 6
}}
Harry John Gration {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE|DL}} (22 October 1950 – 24 June 2022){{cite news |date=27 June 2022 |title=Harry Gration obituary |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/harry-gration-obituary-6c7lb7lnr |url-access=subscription |access-date=27 June 2022 |issn=0140-0460}} was an English journalist and broadcaster. He was one of the main anchors for the BBC Yorkshire regional magazine programme Look North. He was often referred to as Mr. Yorkshire by the media.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/john-sentamu-yorkshire-geoffrey-boycott-york-minster-bbc-b2135661.html|title=Cricket legends join family at service for 'Mr Yorkshire' Harry Gration|date=1 August 2022|website=The Independent|accessdate=2 August 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/people/harry-gration-funeral-inside-york-minster-as-family-friends-and-colleagues-say-goodbye-to-mr-yorkshire-3789744|title=Harry Gration funeral: Inside York Minster as family, friends and colleagues say goodbye to 'Mr Yorkshire'|date=1 August 2022|work=Yorkshire Post|accessdate=2 August 2022}}
Early life
Born in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, to Nina (née Smith) and Morris Gration, Gration was raised in a back-to-back house in the city.{{cite news |title=Look North's Gration to get MBE |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-22898385 |accessdate=20 September 2018 |work=BBC News |date=15 June 2013}} His father was a chemist who was a manager at a Boots store in the city and promotion took the family first to Leeds, then York.{{cite news |title=Love affair turned sour on Harry |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8068975.love-affair-turned-sour-on-harry/ |accessdate=20 September 2018 |work=Bradford Telegraph and Argus |date=26 January 1999}} Gration was educated at Leeds Grammar School and at St Peter's School in York,{{cite news |title=My Yorkshire: Harry Gration on his favourite people and places |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/analysis/my-yorkshire-harry-gration-on-his-favourite-people-and-places-1-9020126 |accessdate=19 September 2018 |work=The Yorkshire Post |date=17 February 2018}} and after leaving education, he initially spent five years as a history teacher and eventually, a head of history at The Rodillian Academy,{{cite web|url=https://www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk/about/heritage/previousfellows/harrygration|title=Honorary Fellow Harry Gration|date=16 February 2016|website=Bradford College|access-date=18 June 2019|archive-date=5 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605225051/https://www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk/about/heritage/previousfellows/harrygration|url-status=dead}} a school in Lofthouse, near Leeds.
Career
Whilst still teaching, Gration became a sports commentator on rugby league games which led to a three-month contract with the BBC. He then ended up resigning from his teaching post and went into broadcasting full-time when he joined BBC Radio Leeds in 1978.{{cite book |last1=Hetherington |first1=Alastair |title=News in the regions : Plymouth Sound to Moray Firth |date=1989 |publisher=Macmillan |location=London |isbn=978-0-333-48232-2 |page=48}}
Gration started presenting Look North in 1982.{{cite news|first1=Ruth |last1=Dacey |date=14 October 2020 |title=Harry Gration full interview - Why I decided to step down from BBC Look North hot seat|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/uk-news/harry-gration-full-interview-why-i-decided-to-step-down-from-bbc-look-north-hot-seat-3002227 |access-date=11 January 2021|work=Yorkshire Post}} By 2018, Gration had been broadcasting with the BBC for 40 years,{{cite news |last1=Hirst |first1=Andrew |title=Find out what Harry Gration's best memory from 40 years of broadcasting is |url=https://www.examiner.co.uk/news/tv/find-out-whats-harry-grations-14423982 |accessdate=20 September 2018 |work=Huddersfield Examiner |date=19 March 2018}} although he had a spell at BBC South Today where he co-presented with Sally Taylor between 1995 and 1999. He presented alongside Judith Stamper, Clare Frisby, Christa Ackroyd, and his last co-anchor was Amy Garcia.{{cite news |title=Amy Garcia to join Harry Gration on BBC Look North sofa |url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/10763340.display/ |accessdate=20 September 2018 |work=Echo |date=25 October 2013}}
He appeared on Top Gear in 2010. While supposedly reporting from Braithwell, Jeremy Clarkson crashes a Reliant Robin in the background.{{cite web|title=Rolling a Reliant Robin – Top Gear – BBC – YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=402&v=QQh56geU0X8&feature=youtu.be|access-date=11 January 2021|website=www.youtube.com| date=26 November 2010 }}
Gration was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2013 Birthday Honours for services to broadcasting.{{London Gazette|issue=60534|supp=y|page=18|date=15 June 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/general-news/video-i-shed-a-few-tears-says-tv-veteran-harry-gration-1-5770585|title=Video: I shed a few tears says TV veteran Harry Gration|date=14 June 2013|work=Yorkshire Post}}
Gration regularly appeared in the annual Christmas pantomime at the York Theatre Royal in a filmed segment with its main star and writer, Berwick Kaler.{{cite news |title=Harry Gration and Berwick Kaler shoot Theatre Royal pantomime film in York |url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/uk_national_video/93015/read/ |accessdate=20 September 2018 |work=The Argus |date=18 November 2009 |archive-date=20 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920160839/https://www.theargus.co.uk/uk_national_video/93015/read/ |url-status=dead }} In the 2016 production of Cinderella, Gration appeared in women's underwear.{{cite news |last1=Hickling |first1=Alfred |title=Cinderella review – a Christmas miracle in York |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/dec/13/cinderella-review-a-christmas-miracle-in-york |accessdate=19 September 2018 |work=The Guardian |date=13 December 2016 }}
On 13 October 2020, Gration announced his retirement from the BBC.{{cite news |last1=Dacey |first1=Ruth |title=Harry Gration, the veteran presenter of regional news programme Look North is to retire amid local news cutbacks. |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/uk-news/bbc-look-north-presenter-harry-gration-confirms-his-retirement-3002113 |accessdate=13 October 2020 |work=Yorkshire Post |date=13 October 2020}} His final appearance as lead presenter on Look North was 21 October 2020, the day before his 70th birthday.{{cite news |title=Harry Gration: Tributes pour in for Ex-BBC Look North presenter |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-61935611 |access-date=25 June 2022 |work=BBC News |date=25 June 2022}}
Public office
In December 2009, Gration followed in the footsteps of his Look North colleague and Mayor of Wetwang, Paul Hudson, when he was declared honorary Mayor of Burn.
{{cite news
| url = http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/archive/2009/12/07/Local+news+%28p_news_local%29/4780089.Burn_elect_Harry_Gration_and_Hilda_Ogden_as_its_honorary_mayor_and_mayoress/
| publisher = York Press
| date=7 December 2009
|accessdate=7 December 2009
|title=Burn elect Harry Gration and Hilda Ogden as its honorary mayor and mayoress
}}
In June 2018, Gration performed the wedding ceremony between Keeley Donovan and Johnny I'Anson in Knaresborough; Donovan is a Look North weather presenter and reporter and I'Anson also broadcasts for the BBC.{{cite news |last1=Riley |first1=Anna |title=Keeley Donovan shares details of 'wonderful' festival-themed wedding |url=https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/keeley-donovan-wedding-photos-bbc-1711429 |accessdate=20 September 2018 |work=Hull Daily Mail |date=25 June 2018}}
He was a Deputy Lieutenant of North Yorkshire.{{cite web|url=https://www.nyll.org.uk/|title=North Yorkshire Lieutenancy|website=North Yorkshire Lieutenancy|accessdate=21 February 2021}}
Personal life
Gration was married three times and had six children.{{cite news|last=Dawson|first=Jayne|url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/whats-on/tv/harry-gration-i-still-love-my-job-on-look-north-1-6883775|title=Harry Gration: I still love my job on Look North|work=The Yorkshire Post|date=8 October 2014|accessdate=15 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021203943/http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/whats-on/tv/harry-gration-i-still-love-my-job-on-look-north-1-6883775|archive-date=21 October 2016}}{{cite news |last1=Gordon |first1=Maxine |title=From the news to nurseries: Helen Gration talks about giving up a career in telly for a life with tiny tots |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/15639971.From_the_news_to_nurseries__Helen_Gration_talks_about_giving_up_a_career_in_telly_for_a_life_with_tiny_tots/ |access-date=20 September 2018 |work=York Press |date=17 November 2017}} His first two marriages, to Hilary Gardner (m.1974) and Rowena Cluness (m.1984), ended in divorce.
He married his third wife, Helen Chene, in 2001. Gration died suddenly after collapsing on 24 June 2022 at the age of 71.{{cite news |title=Harry Gration: Ex-BBC Look North presenter dies, aged 71 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-61927303 |access-date=24 June 2022 |work=BBC News |date=24 June 2022}}{{Cite web |last1=Port |first1=Samuel |last2=Updated |date=2022-08-01 |title=Emotional photos from Harry Gration's funeral as hundreds gather to say goodbye |url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/tv/gallery/emotional-photos-harry-grations-funeral-24639737 |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=YorkshireLive |language=en}} It was later revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer, but this was unrelated to his death.{{cite web |url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/tv/bbc-harry-grations-heartbroken-wife-24615352 |title=BBC Harry Gration's wife says he was suffering from cancer as she pays tribute |date=28 July 2022}}
A memorial service was held for Gration on 1 August 2022, which is Yorkshire Day, at York Minster. It was attended by Geoff Boycott, Dickie Bird and former Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|2635849}}
- [https://www.bbc.co.uk/looknorthyorkslincs/content/articles/2006/09/27/harry_gration_feature.shtml BBC presenter profile]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071014181554/http://www.tvnewsroom.co.uk/profiles/profile.php?page=harrygration TV Newsroom profile]
- [https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8068975.love-affair-turned-sour-on-harry/ Returning to the BBC Leeds studio in 1999]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gration, Harry}}
Category:BBC newsreaders and journalists
Category:English reporters and correspondents
Category:Deputy lieutenants of North Yorkshire
Category:English rugby league commentators
Category:English television presenters
Category:Mass media people from Bradford
Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire
Category:People educated at Leeds Grammar School
Category:People educated at St Peter's School, York