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Funeral held for BBC's Brian Hanrahan | Funeral held for BBC's Brian Hanrahan |
(about 11 hours later) | |
The funeral of Brian Hanrahan, the BBC correspondent who recently died of cancer, has been held in north London. | The funeral of Brian Hanrahan, the BBC correspondent who recently died of cancer, has been held in north London. |
Mr Hanrahan, who was best known for his coverage of the Falklands War, died at the age of 61 after a short illness. | Mr Hanrahan, who was best known for his coverage of the Falklands War, died at the age of 61 after a short illness. |
BBC colleagues including Nicholas Witchell, Jeremy Bowen and James Naughtie were among mourners at Saint Monica's Catholic Church in Enfield. | BBC colleagues including Nicholas Witchell, Jeremy Bowen and James Naughtie were among mourners at Saint Monica's Catholic Church in Enfield. |
A bouquet of yellow roses adorned Mr Hanrahan's coffin as it was carried into the church grounds. | A bouquet of yellow roses adorned Mr Hanrahan's coffin as it was carried into the church grounds. |
BBC World News editor Jon Williams said the service was packed with Mr Hanrahan's family, friends and co-workers, along with his widow, Honor, and daughter, Catherine. | BBC World News editor Jon Williams said the service was packed with Mr Hanrahan's family, friends and co-workers, along with his widow, Honor, and daughter, Catherine. |
"More than one speaker talked of Brian's integrity and of his humanity," Mr Williams said. | "More than one speaker talked of Brian's integrity and of his humanity," Mr Williams said. |
At the funeral the focus was on the qualities that endeared Brian to listeners and viewers as he covered momentous events across the world in a lifetime of reporting. | At the funeral the focus was on the qualities that endeared Brian to listeners and viewers as he covered momentous events across the world in a lifetime of reporting. |
Father Shaun Lennard, who conducted the funeral, pointed out that most of the tributes paid to Brian since his death had described as a man of integrity. | |
Ian Whitting, Britain's ambassador to Iceland who first met Brian when both were posted to Moscow, gave a eulogy in which he called him a self-effacing seeker after the truth. | Ian Whitting, Britain's ambassador to Iceland who first met Brian when both were posted to Moscow, gave a eulogy in which he called him a self-effacing seeker after the truth. |
And Mr Whitting said Brian had confronted illness with huge courage, realism and never with self-pity. | And Mr Whitting said Brian had confronted illness with huge courage, realism and never with self-pity. |
We, his colleagues, would testify to that. | We, his colleagues, would testify to that. |
Mr Hanrahan's reporting spanned the reshaping of Nato and the EU, as well as conflicts in Bosnia, Kosovo, and the Middle East. | Mr Hanrahan's reporting spanned the reshaping of Nato and the EU, as well as conflicts in Bosnia, Kosovo, and the Middle East. |
As the BBC's Far East, and then Moscow correspondent, he watched dramatic changes unfolding in China and Russia. | As the BBC's Far East, and then Moscow correspondent, he watched dramatic changes unfolding in China and Russia. |
He covered the Tiananmen Square massacre and the fall of the Berlin Wall. | He covered the Tiananmen Square massacre and the fall of the Berlin Wall. |
But it was the Falkands War in 1982 that made his reputation. | But it was the Falkands War in 1982 that made his reputation. |
Mr Hanrahan famously counted the returning Harrier jets to ensure he could report the story and get round MoD restrictions. | Mr Hanrahan famously counted the returning Harrier jets to ensure he could report the story and get round MoD restrictions. |
He said: "I'm not allowed to say how many planes joined the raid, but I counted them all out and I counted them all back. Their pilots were unhurt, cheerful and jubilant, giving thumbs-up signs." | He said: "I'm not allowed to say how many planes joined the raid, but I counted them all out and I counted them all back. Their pilots were unhurt, cheerful and jubilant, giving thumbs-up signs." |
Speaking after his death on 20 December, former war reporter Martin Bell paid tribute to a "quiet, decent man" who was "very thorough and very good at his job". | Speaking after his death on 20 December, former war reporter Martin Bell paid tribute to a "quiet, decent man" who was "very thorough and very good at his job". |
"I never heard an ill word said about Brian Hanrahan," he added. | "I never heard an ill word said about Brian Hanrahan," he added. |
Former BBC war correspondent Kate Adie described him as an "extremely dogged and factual and intelligent reporter who saw things in front of him and described them graphically". | Former BBC war correspondent Kate Adie described him as an "extremely dogged and factual and intelligent reporter who saw things in front of him and described them graphically". |
"He was one of those voices you could rely on," she added. | "He was one of those voices you could rely on," she added. |
Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and Foreign Secretary William Hague have also paid tribute to Mr Hanrahan. | Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and Foreign Secretary William Hague have also paid tribute to Mr Hanrahan. |