Harry Gration

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. a school in Lofthouse, near Leeds.

Gration started presenting Look North in 1982. By 2018, Gration had been broadcasting with the BBC for 40 years, although he had a spell at BBC South Today where he co-presented with Sally Taylor between 1995 and 1999.

He appeared on Top Gear in 2010. While supposedly reporting from Braithwell, Jeremy Clarkson crashes a Reliant Robin in the background.

Gration was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2013 Birthday Honours for services to broadcasting.

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. In the 2016 production of Cinderella, Gration appeared in women's underwear.

On 13 October 2020, Gration announced his retirement from the BBC. His final appearance as lead presenter on Look North was 21 October 2020, the day before his 70th birthday.

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. 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.

He was a Deputy Lieutenant of North Yorkshire.

Personal life Gration was married three times and had six children. 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. It was later revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer, but this was unrelated to his death.

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.