Sallyanne Clarke

... her heartfelt weekly take on fashion, beauty, food and family

IWAS very sad to wake up to the news that Terry Wogan had passed away in the early hours of last Sunday after a brave, but mercifully quite short, battle with cancer. Terry, pictured with wife Helen, was 77 years old, a legend who truly put Ireland on the broadcasting map. Born in Limerick he started his career in RTÉ as a newscaster but was best-known for his 30-plus years at the BBC. His mellow, dulcet tones and soft Irish brogue meant that when he retired in 2009 from his BBC Radio show he was saying goodbye to more than eight million loyal listeners. When he found out this figure, he quipped that there were more than 60 million people living in Britain, asking who the other 52 million were listening to?

As well as his long career in radio and TV, Terry was a gentleman and a scholar.

They don’t make them like him any more. He will be sadly missed. I will particularly remember his years commentating on the Eurovision Song Contest, whiskey in hand as he called a spade a spade in the most polite and endearing way. He famously introduced one act by saying, ‘Spain is next, with a song called Bloody Mary. That reminds me, I haven’t touched a drop yet.’ Being Terry, he got away with it.

Father Brian D’Arcy spoke movingly of his long- time friend’s death, and perfectly captured how loved he was in his adopted homeland, asking: ‘How can you have a public funeral for Terry Wogan? Where would you put it? Wembley wouldn’t be big enough for it, so there will probably be just family and friends at a private funeral.’

It’s thought he will be buried in a private family service with the BBC planning to hold a public memorial service at a later date. Farewell to one of the greats.