When BBC Look North presenter Harry Gration died suddenly at the age of 71 on June 24th tributes poured in. Harry was genuinely loved by his viewer and had been part of the regional news programme for decades.
For the latest on this see this YorkMix story
Born in Bradford, Harry had lived in York for many years and he was known to millions both for his work on TV and his support of numerous charities.
Today a Service of Thanksgiving is being held in York Minster starting at 11.30am (August 1), appropriately on Yorkshire Day.
A York Minster spokesperson told us it will be led by the Revd Canon Richard Carew, Vicar of the Church of St Edward the Confessor in Dringhouses and the preacher will be the former Archbishop of York, Lord Sentamu.
Christa Ackroyd was already well known as presenter of ITV Yorkshire’s Calendar when the BBC in Leeds made efforts to get her to switch channels.
She told YorkMix Radio it was the chance to work with Harry Gration, who had returned north after a spell on BBC South Today in Southampton, that made her move.
Dr Sentamu told the BBC Look North: “The thing that I admired about Harry – he was not one of those media people who would say ‘you can’t let the truth get in the way of a good story’. No, for Harry if a story was worth telling it must be true. If it isn’t, it’s not worth telling.”
[tptn_list limit=3 daily=1 hour_range=1]
A spokesman for the BBC said that on Monday the intention is for the cortège to travel down Leeman Road, over Lendal bridge, to come to rest in Duncombe Place by York Minster.
Members of the public are invited to pay their respects but it is anticipated to be exceptionally well-attended.
It will be carried live on the J G Fielder and Son Youtube channel here