Harry Carpenter

Harry Carpenter (b 17 October, 1925 in London), was a BBC sports commentator from the early 1950s until his retirement in 1994. His speciality was boxing. He was presenter of programmes such as "Sportsnight" (1978-1985) and "Grandstand" and also anchored coverage of Wimbledon and golf tournaments.

He was famous for his rapport with former WBC World Heavyweight Champion Frank Bruno. Carpenter often conducted post-match interviews with Bruno, whose catchphrase was "Know what I mean 'Arry", and their relationship helped give Bruno a "cuddly bear" image and a popularity with the British public beyond the boxing fraternity.

Biography

The son of a wholesale fish merchant at Billingsgate Market, Carpenter attended Selhurst Grammar School in Croydon. He began sports reporting as a sub-editor for several national newspapers. He joined the BBC in 1949 and was the corporation's full-time boxing correspondent from 1962 until 1994, when Jim Neilly replaced him in that capacity. He served as a boxing columnist for the Sporting Record from 1950-1954. He then joined the "Daily Mail" as a boxing writer and sports columnist from 1954-1962.

While writing for the national papers, Carpenter was broadcasting regularly on radio and television, covering thousands of professional and amateur fights including all Olympic games from 1956 until 1992. He has authored three books on boxing, produced the documentary, "The Richest Prize in Sport", and served as the voice of the "Hall of Fame" series, "Sports Archive" and "Great Moments in Sport".

While his name was most often associated with boxing, Carpenter established himself as one of England’s most versatile sportscasters, covering many of the major sporting events. He has been a regular member of the broadcast team on "Sportsnight" and "Grandstand" and covered all major golf tournaments since 1965 until his retirement. He also served as the commentator on the Oxford/Cambridge University Boat Race, and greyhound racing. In 1967, Carpenter began covering Wimbledon for BBC until 1993.

Trivia

*Harry Carpenter appeared as a TV commentator in the controversial 1969 Peter Sellers film "The Magic Christian"
* His hobbies include golf and music.

Quotes

*Quote (alleged) - "Ah, isn't that nice, the wife of the Cambridge President is kissing the cox of the Oxford crew."

*Quote (at the conclusion of Henry Cooper - Joe Bugner British title fight in London, 1971) - "He's given it to Bugner!!! And I find that ... a-"ma"-zing..."

*Quote (at the conclusion of Muhammad Ali's famous victory over George Foreman in their world heavyweight title fight in Kinshasa, Zaire, 1974 ("The Rumble In The Jungle")) - "Oh my God, he's won the title back at 32!"

*Quote (during the first round of the first Frank Bruno-Mike Tyson world heavyweight title fight in Las Vegas, 1989, as Bruno landed a good punch at the end of the first round, momentarily losing his cool objectivity) "Go on .. get in there Frank!"

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_depth/2000/sports_personality/1021770.stm Harry Carpenter on the BBC website]
* [http://www.americansportscastersonline.com/harrycarpenter.html Harry Carpenter at American Sportscasters Online]

Persondata
NAME= Carpenter, Harry
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=sports commentator
DATE OF BIRTH=1925-10-17
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=