Beccy Barr presented North West Tonight until she swapped careers to become a firefighter
Tributes have flooded in for BBC North West’s Beccy Barr, after she died aged 46. The presenter hosted the regional news programme from 2013 before she swapped careers in 2019 to become a firefighter.
Beccy took to social media platform X in December and revealed she had been diagnosed with incurable abdominal cancer. Her family issued a statement yesterday to confirm she had died.
It said: “I’m sharing the very sad news that Beccy passed away peacefully this morning. She spent her last few days at @SJHospice who provided the most dignified & compassionate care to Beccy & her whole family. Donations to the hospice can be made in Beccy’s memory.”
Beccy’s former co-host, Roger Johnson, issued a tribute after the sad news. He said: “Beccy was courageous in so many ways. Not least in choosing to leave a successful TV career to retrain as a firefighter. She excelled in that too. My thoughts are with her daughter and family.”
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Steph McGovern, who worked with Beccy on BBC North West, issued a heartbreaking tribute after the sad news. She said: “This is heartbreaking. Beccy was the life and soul of the BBC newsroom. She always cracked me up with her take on life. Funny, smart and fearless. And then when she left to be a firefighter we were all in awe.”
Beccy hailed from Lancaster and the region’s MP paid tribute to her legacy. Cat Smith said: “I’m so sorry to hear this, my heart aches for all those who mourn her. She made the world a better place because of everything she did with an enthusiasm that few could match. RIP Beccy. So much love to her family right now. X”