Harry Gration
Encyclopedia
Harry Gration is a television presenter based in Leeds
, West Yorkshire
. He is one of the main presenter
s for the BBC Yorkshire
regional magazine programme Look North
.
, where he enjoyed playing cricket. He trained to be a teacher at St John's College (now York St John University
), becoming a history teacher at the Rothwell Grammar School (which later became Rodillian High School) in Lofthouse
.
and Radio Humberside
, whilst still a history teacher. He moved full-time to the BBC to present Look North with Judith Stamper, then became spokesman for the Rugby Football League
in 1994, and spent some time in the late 1990s as a host of South Today
, based in Southampton
. In the meantime, Look North was managing with Sophie Raworth
. He rejoined Look North in January 1999, co-hosting with Clare Frisby
, when Mike McCarthy left. Since Christa Ackroyd
left ITV Yorkshire to join Look North, he has been teamed with her and their weather man Paul Hudson
and together they have won many awards.
He also fronts the Super League Show
and is a regular reporter for the BBC Olympic coverage and Final Score
. He is known to be a fan of many sports, being seen at many events. In addition to this, he regularly provides commentary on Olympic Judo
for the BBC and he was an occasional main presenter on Grandstand
in the late 1980s.
It was announced by Christa Ackroyd on Look North on 23 September 2011 that Harry was ill and would be taking time off for a few weeks.
Paul Hudson
when he was declared honorary Mayor of Burn
.
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
. He is one of the main presenter
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
s for the BBC Yorkshire
BBC Yorkshire
BBC Yorkshire is one of the English regions of the BBC. It was formed from the division of the former BBC North region into BBC Yorkshire and BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, based in Hull.-Television:...
regional magazine programme Look North
BBC Look North (Yorkshire and North Midlands)
BBC Look North is the BBC's regional television news service for West & South Yorkshire, parts of North Yorkshire and the North Midlands. The programmes as produced and broadcast from the BBC Broadcasting Centre at St...
.
Early life
In his early years, he lived on Toller Lane in Bradford, where his father was the manager of Boots on Darley Street, then his family moved to Leeds and York. He went to the independent St Peter's School, YorkSt Peter's School, York
St Peter's School is a co-educational independent boarding and day school located in the English City of York, with extensive grounds on the banks of the River Ouse...
, where he enjoyed playing cricket. He trained to be a teacher at St John's College (now York St John University
York St John University
York St John University York St John University York St John University (formerly known variously as York St John University College (2004), York St John College (2001), Ripon and York St John: a College of the University of Leeds (c. 1996), University College of Ripon and York St John...
), becoming a history teacher at the Rothwell Grammar School (which later became Rodillian High School) in Lofthouse
Lofthouse, West Yorkshire
Lofthouse is a village in West Yorkshire, England between the cities of Wakefield and Leeds. It is in the City of Leeds metropolitan borough but with a Wakefield postal address . It is mentioned as Locthuse also Loftose in the 1086 Domesday Book....
.
Broadcasting career
He started out doing sports commentaries from Radio LeedsBBC Radio Leeds
BBC Radio Leeds is the BBC Local Radio service for the English metropolitan county of West Yorkshire.- Frequencies :It broadcasts from its studios at St...
and Radio Humberside
BBC Radio Humberside
BBC Radio Humberside is a BBC Local Radio service covering the area of the former English county of Humberside, which was returned to North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire the East Riding of Yorkshire and the City of Kingston upon Hull on 1 April 1996....
, whilst still a history teacher. He moved full-time to the BBC to present Look North with Judith Stamper, then became spokesman for the Rugby Football League
Rugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
in 1994, and spent some time in the late 1990s as a host of South Today
South Today
South Today is the BBC's regional television news programme for East Dorset, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, West Sussex and the western fringes of Surrey...
, based in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
. In the meantime, Look North was managing with Sophie Raworth
Sophie Raworth
Sophie Jane Raworth is an English newsreader and journalist who works for British broadcaster the BBC. She is the main presenter of the BBC News at One, presenting Tuesday to Friday, and regularly appears on the BBC News at Six and occasionally on BBC News at Ten.-Early life:Born in Surrey to a...
. He rejoined Look North in January 1999, co-hosting with Clare Frisby
Clare Frisby
Clare Kathleen Frisby is a newsreader for Look North based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. She presents the regional opt-outs during BBC Breakfast and The Politics Show in Yorkshire and the North Midlands-Career:...
, when Mike McCarthy left. Since Christa Ackroyd
Christa Ackroyd
Christa Ackroyd is a British television and radio presenter. She is one of the main presenters for the BBC Yorkshire regional magazine programme Look North.-Early life:...
left ITV Yorkshire to join Look North, he has been teamed with her and their weather man Paul Hudson
Paul Hudson
Paul David Hudson is a weather presenter for BBC Yorkshire and BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in England.-Education:...
and together they have won many awards.
He also fronts the Super League Show
Super League Show
The Super League Show is the BBC's rugby league highlights programme, usually shown on a Sunday afternoon on BBC One in the North of England and on the BBC website. It is fronted by Look North newsreader Harry Gration and Tanya Arnold with a variety of studio guests from Super League...
and is a regular reporter for the BBC Olympic coverage and Final Score
Final Score
Final Score is a BBC TV programme produced by BBC Sport. The programme is broadcast on late Saturday afternoons in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, usually on BBC ONE. BBC Northern Ireland opts away during the last ten minutes to cover local results, BBC Scotland runs a different programme...
. He is known to be a fan of many sports, being seen at many events. In addition to this, he regularly provides commentary on Olympic Judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
for the BBC and he was an occasional main presenter on Grandstand
Grandstand
A grandstand is a large and normally permanent structure for seating spectators, most often at a racetrack. This includes both auto racing and horse racing. The grandstand is in essence like a single section of a stadium, but differs from a stadium in that it does not wrap all or most of the way...
in the late 1980s.
It was announced by Christa Ackroyd on Look North on 23 September 2011 that Harry was ill and would be taking time off for a few weeks.
Public office
In December 2009, Harry followed in the footsteps of his Look North colleague and Mayor of WetwangWetwang
Wetwang is a Yorkshire Wolds village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated west of Driffield on the A166 road....
Paul Hudson
Paul Hudson
Paul David Hudson is a weather presenter for BBC Yorkshire and BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in England.-Education:...
when he was declared honorary Mayor of Burn
Burn, North Yorkshire
Burn is a village and civil parish in the Selby district North Yorkshire, England. It is situated some three miles south of Selby.The village is mainly situated around the main A19 road with the addition of a small housing estate built in the mid 1960s to the west of the main road.To the east of...
.