Harry Gration

[Steve in Pudsey]

Is Simon correct when he says that Harry worked for Calendar? I thought his career had started with Radio Leeds doing sports coverage on a casual basis while teaching, then worked his way up to Sports Editor and moved across to Look North, and pretty much stayed there except for a brief interlude at the RFL and South Today.

[DE88]

https://twitter.com/mrgordonburns/status...4009572352
https://twitter.com/mrgordonburns/status...6579828736

[Steve in Pudsey]

Seemed appropriate to remember this sketch about - and with a cameo from - the man himself

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbV7A-i6b0I

[Brekkie]

Simon McCoy back on the BBC News Channel paying tribute to his good friend Harry and advocating how regional news is so important now just as it always has been.

Regional news is probably Simon's destiny.   In the right region it really would play to his strengths, and probably give him a larger audience than any news channel would day in day out.

[Steve in Pudsey]

Wasn't his ex partner a BBC regional news presenter? Probably contributes to his appreciation of it's importance.

[Dylan2001]

Wasn't his ex partner a BBC regional news presenter? Probably contributes to his appreciation of it's importance.

Correct, Spotlight’s Victoria Graham

[Steve]

I'll put this out there now - I hope whatever tributes are shown next week give Christa as much opportunity as anybody else to contribute.

Is it too early suggest that following Radio 2's precedent, the BBC Leeds building could become Gration House?

That is a lovely idea. Does anyone know if the BBC actually owns the building at St Peter’s Square, or do they lease the space in it, along with the restaurant on the ground floor?

It really is a great idea. 

It’s not a BBC-owned building, the whole complex is on a long-term lease to the BBC (and the others who are in the other bits).

---

Ian White presenting today’s Look North, leading with the tributes. Must be such a hard story to cover for everyone there. 

Nice nods across the BBC too, including on the cricket highlights from Headingley, and Johnny I’Anson on Five Live Breakfast who was married by Harry at his wedding to Keeley Donovan:


https://twitter.com/bbc5live/status/1540...D2jM5rc_JQ

[London Lite]

More news about Harry on Saturday's Look North. A special edition will air on Monday at 6.30pm.

https://youtu.be/S4TNGz2pp0g

[Johnr]

I wonder if Peter Levy will just make a trip to Leeds and they’ll show the Yorkshire Look North in East Yorkshire

[adamiow]

It would be nice if they got Christa Ackroyd back for the tribute.

[Scratch_Perry]

Simon McCoy back on the BBC News Channel paying tribute to his good friend Harry and advocating how regional news is so important now just as it always has been.

Regional news is probably Simon's destiny.   In the right region it really would play to his strengths, and probably give him a larger audience than any news channel would day in day out.

Given that he resides in Gloucestershire these days with wife no.3 Emma Samms (and McCoy in turn is husband no.4 for her), it would either be BBC Points West or ITV West Country Tonight.

[natashajacobs]

Hi, sorry if I have misunderstood but what is the relevance of their respective marriages on this topic?

[Steve in Pudsey]

I wonder if Peter Levy will just make a trip to Leeds and they’ll show the Yorkshire Look North in East Yorkshire

I suspect not, the Hull audience haven't seen Harry on air regularly for over 10 years, probably don't know who Amy is for example. The story is slightly different for the East Yorkshire audience.

Has there been any tribute from Judith Stamper by the way?

[KOWT76]

I wonder if Peter Levy will just make a trip to Leeds and they’ll show the Yorkshire Look North in East Yorkshire

I suspect not, the Hull audience haven't seen Harry on air regularly for over 10 years, probably don't know who Amy is for example. The story is slightly different for the East Yorkshire audience.

Has there been any tribute from Judith Stamper by the way?

Judith was on BBC Radio Leeds Breakfast yesterday morning

[Rob]

Hi, sorry if I have misunderstood but what is the relevance of their respective marriages on this topic?

Agreed, I'm not interested in who's married to who. If you're that obsessed, go and buy a gossip magazine.

Back on topic now please...