Prayers and tributes have been flowing in following the death of popular TV and radio presenter,Terry Wogan.
Sir Terry, aged 77, passed away in the early hours of Sunday after a brief battle with cancer, he was surrounded by close family members at the time of his demise.
On Sunday, his family released a short statement regarding his death.
“He passed away surrounded by his family. While we understand he will be missed by many, the family ask that their privacy is respected at this time,” the statement said.
Archbishop of England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols responding to the news about his death in a tweet wrote:
“Along with millions today I mourn the loss of Terry Wogan. I pray the Lord will receive him into his heavenly home there to be at peace.”
One Catholic priest, Fr Brian D’Arcy, according to the Daily Telegraph, was one of the last people who had the opportunity of being with him just before he passed away.
Lamenting over his death, the priest said:
“It was a desperately sad scene. It was the kind of sadness I haven’t experienced, possibly outside my own parents death. Leaving the house I knew I would never see him again. Naturally enough what went on between the pastor and the patient will remain private but we had prayers for the family and Terry,” Fr D’Arcy said.
“Terry had great respect for all religions, he would find structured religion difficult but he had a deep spirituality and a great, innate goodness and a conviction you ought to use your gifts for the benefit of mankind and he did that right to the end,” He added.
Britain’s Prime Minister, David Cameron said, “Britain has lost a huge talent – someone millions came to feel was their own special friend”.
“He provided inspiration to generations of emigrants who, like himself, had moved from Ireland to make better lives for themselves at a time when it wasn’t always easy to be Irish in the United Kingdom,” he added.
Terry Wogan was born on August 3, 1938 in Limerick, Ireland as Michael Terence Wogan. He is survived by his wife, Helen Joyce and three children. He was awarded an Honorary OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1997 New Year Honours List for his services to Broadcasting, he is also one of the founders of Children in Need and hosted the telethon for more than 20 years, and greatly helped to raise more than £400 million for charity.
