Harry was born in London. During World War II he served as a telegrapher in the Royal Navy. He began his journalistic career in 1946, working as a sub-editor for several national newspapers in Fleet Street.
In 1949, he joined the BBC and did his first boxing commentary. He continued to mix work with print journalism for the Greyhound Express and the Daily Mail, until he switched to television full time in 1962.
Harry was a familiar face and voice on BBC Sport for 45 years. He was boxing correspondent (1962 – 1994) and commentated on boxing for ten Summer Olympic Games (1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988 and 1992).
He also covered the Open Golf championships (1965 – 1994), Wimbledon (1967 – 1989) and the annual Cambridge v Oxford boat race (1970 – 1990).
He was the long-standing presenter of Sports Review of the Year (BBC One, 1961 – 1985), Sportsnight (BBC One 1975 – 1985) and occasionally presented Summer Grandstand (1962 – 1964 and 1967).
In 1989, he received the American Sportscasters’ Association award and the International Sportscaster of the Year.
In 1991, he was the subject of This is Your Life, when Michael Aspel surprised him.
Harry became an unlikely double act with former boxer Frank Bruno, whose catchphrase ‘Know what I mean, ‘arry?’ featured in their post-fight interviews.
He was awarded the OBE in the 1991 New Year’s Honours.
He retired from the BBC in 1994.
He had a minor heart attack in 2009.
Harry died in his sleep at the King’s College Hospital the following year, aged 84.
Personal information
Clips of Harry on The TV Room
Harry may be featured in video/audio clips on our other websites. Click the links below to display a listing (a 404 error will appear if no clips are found):
Online presence
Acknowledgements
PICTURED: Harry Carpenter. COPYRIGHT: BBC.
Leave a Reply