Jules Bellerby, the York-born radio presenter who has been associated with BBC Radio York since it started, has presented his last show.
This year the BBC has said goodbye to a host of talented and experienced presenters and journalists through a voluntary redundancy programme aimed at saving millions of pounds.
Like Harry Gration at Look North, Jules decided it was time to do different things and leave.
Jules, who grew up in the city, first went into the Bootham Row HQ in the days when it was Bootham Engineering for his first holiday job!
He returned in July 1983 when the radio station opened and over the last 35-plus years has presented every show and also been the sports editor too. He has spent time away working on other stations including BBC Essex where he met his wife, Julia Booth, who also presented shows on Radio York.
At the end of his final show, Jules said: “It’s been a blast. I just want to say thank you very much to everybody.
“I meant it when I said thank you for being there – because without you being there, I’m just a man sitting in a room talking to himself.
“It’s been a tricky year for us all. Next year will be our year. Thank you very much.”
His last track was This Will Be Our Year by the Foo Fighters.
You can listen to his last programme on BBC iPlayer here.
Writing on Twitter, Clerk of the Course at York Racecourse, William Derby, said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to listen to you @Julesradio and to get to know you.
“Thank you for your kindness and support both on air and off air. York, @yorkracecourse and I will miss your voice but I hope we will still see you in person. With very best wishes for the future.”