RICHARD WHITELEY

Early day motion 462, tabled 29 June 2005 by Austin Mitchell (Labour). Signed by 57 members.

That this House is saddened by the sudden death of Richard Whiteley, OBE, Mayor of Wetwang and Yorkshire's best loved television personality, the first face to appear on both Yorkshire Television and Channel Four, presenter of Calendar for 25 years and Countdown for 26 and, as a proud Yorkshireman, the nicest man on TV as well as one of the funniest, a man known round the world for his kindness to ferrets and other interviewees, and the biggest customer of the ludicrous jacket producers of Bradford; notes that Richard leaves 528 ties, 186 jackets, a host of sad friends and a world less colourful for the passing of his five vowels and 11 consonants; and bids him `Ave atque Vale' as they say in Harrogate.

Signatures by party: Labour 37, Liberal Democrat 10, Conservative 8, DUP 1, Scottish National Party 1.