Cricket legends Sir Geoffrey Boycott and Dickie Bird joined hundreds of family members, colleagues and friends of the late BBC regional TV presenter Harry Gration to remember “Mr Yorkshire”.
Former Archbishop of York Lord Sentamu told mourners in York Minster on Monday that it was fitting the award-winning 71-year-old’s funeral took place on Yorkshire Day as he gave the sermon for his “dear friend and fellow traveller”.
Gration died suddenly last month.
He became a Yorkshire institution after fronting the BBC’s Look North programme between 1982 and 2020 in a career spanning more than 40 years.
His co-presenter Amy Garcia told the congregation: “Harry was the heartbeat of the programme and head of the Look North family for four decades.”
She said: “Often called Mr Yorkshire, he was passionate about the county and its people.”
Ms Garcia said Look North had received thousands of messages from well-wishers since Gration’s death.
She said: “He was their voice. He was on their side. He was their friend too.”
Gration’s wife Helen paid tribute to her husband along with two of his sons – Harrison and Harvey.
Mrs Gration said: “We know that we shared him with many. To us he was a husband, dad and daddy and we loved him totally.”
She also said she could sense him assessing today with some embarrassment – but also some bashful pride.
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Earlier 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.
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”.
Harrison sang At The River by Aaron Copeland.