BBC news presenter Sophie Raworth has paid an emotional tribute to her friend and former colleague George Alagiah, who died on Monday at the age of 67 after a long battle with bowel cancer. Raworth described Alagiah as a man of 'great empathy' and 'indomitable spirit' who taught her 'so much about living'.
Raworth first worked with Alagiah in January 2003 when they launched the BBC Six O'Clock News together. She recalled how Alagiah, a former foreign correspondent, was 'terrible with technology' but 'brilliant with words' and had a 'fine sense of judgement'. She said he was 'a man without ego' who never wanted the story to be about him.
In 2014, Alagiah was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer. Raworth said he texted her before calling to share the news, and they spoke for ages. She later ran the Boston Marathon in his honour, raising nearly £10,000 for a bowel cancer charity. She gave him her medal, which he took with him during chemotherapy and later returned framed with a picture of him and his wife.
Raworth said Alagiah was 'not frightened' by his illness and approached it with 'calm dignity'. She recalled how he would ask himself each night if he would be there the next day, answering 'Yes I will' before going to sleep. 'He somehow managed to find a sort of peace - a place of contentment,' she wrote.
Raworth also revealed that she named her daughter Georgia after Alagiah, after attending his 50th birthday party in a Moroccan-style tent in north London in November 2005. 'George had a rich spirit. He radiated warmth with a wonderful smile and a velvety laugh,' she said.
Alagiah is survived by his wife Frances Robathan and their two sons. Raworth concluded: 'George taught me so much about living. I will miss him terribly.'
