Harry Carpenter OBE, sports journalist and broadcaster, was honoured at a memorial service at St Bride’s Church, Fleet Street, today.
Londoner “‘Arry” died, aged 84, in March this year, following a near-50-year career in Fleet Street and with the BBC.
Tributes to the former boxing commentator and Grandstand presenter were led by former world champion Barry McGuigan who said he met Carpenter for the first time at the 1978 Commonwealth Games when he won a gold medal.
“All my fellow boxers were thrilled to have Harry commentate on their fights,” McGuigan said.
Virginia Wade, the 1977 Wimbledon champion, read Rudyard Kipling’s If, including the telling lines which are inscribed above the players’ entrance to the Centre Court at the All England club, where Carpenter worked fronting the BBC’s coverage for many years.
Broadcaster Sir Paul Fox read an excerpt from Harry’s autobiography Where’s Harry and another former colleague, BBC golf commentator Peter Alliss, told of life on and off stage with Carpenter.
Desmond Lynam provided a message from boxer Frank Bruno: “Harry was such a special man.”
Barry Newcombe
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