Harry and Helen Gration on the day he was promoted to an MBE
TV presenter Harry Gration’s widow has said nothing “prepared” her for his unexpected death last year.
The former presenter of BBC Yorkshire news program Look North died suddenly on June 24 at the age of 71.
Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds, Helen Gration said anyone who has experienced the “surprise death” of a loved one can appreciate how traumatic it can be.
Her comments came as the family released an audio recording of her husband’s last stage show.
There’s Only One Harry Gration shows a performance he gave alongside former ITV Calendar presenter Christine Talbot at York’s Theater Royal 10 weeks before his death.
She said the release of the recording was part of keeping her husband’s legacy alive, particularly for the couple’s three sons, the youngest of whom is three years old.
“I’d like to make sure there’s a synopsis out there and a really good place where in future years they’ll want to hear stories and remember stories Harry told us around the table,” Helen said.
Harry Gration with Look North presenter Amy Garcia and weather presenter Paul Hudson in 2020
She admitted listening to the recording, which is available on YouTube and as a podcast, was emotional.
“It’s really hard, other people this will have happened to, in a traumatic surprise death, things hit you in a way you weren’t prepared for,” she said.
Harry joined the BBC in 1978 and Look North in 1982. In 2020 he presented his last show.
He has won a number of awards for his work and was made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honors List in 2013.
Helen said he was very humble about the public’s affection for him.
She added that the respect he had for people and the way he could make a story relatable was an “incredible gift.”
“I don’t remember us going out once, maybe for dinner, and not being interrupted by someone wanting to talk to him or take a picture,” she said.
Helen said memories are hard to deal with at times, but said she considers the family extremely happy.
“Because we have so much wealth and at some point when it’s not so raw and it doesn’t hurt so much, the boys will be able to dive into some amazing memories,” she said.
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