Farewell to former BBC sports journalist Kevin Gearey, who's died aged 66. He left Auntie back in 2011, after 32 years in harness. He tried Twitter in September that year, but got bored after six tweets.
That doesn't mean he wasn't active in journalism up to the end. He was being treated for cancer, but found himself in the Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham earlier this month with a chest infection. He had to share his tiny ward with a rather Covid-19 angry patient, but still had the drive to share his story with the Kent Messenger Group. His ruby wedding trip to Greece also made news in September.
Tales of, and by Gearey, are legendary. You could try the time he nearly made it to Los Angeles for the Lennox Lewis/Vitali Klitschko "Battle of the Titans" in 2003. Or his elegant but still cheeky tv obituary of Harry Carpenter. BBC director of news and current affairs Fran Unsworth said Gearey was "a superb sports writer and reporter, whose witticisms amused and engaged audiences on TV and radio throughout his career".
RIP Kevin. Sending love and condolences to your family. Back in my drinking days we shared many a pint and I delighted in you mischievous sense of humour and wealth of trivial knowledge. You were always your own man and will be missed. ENDINGrip
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