BBC Radio star dies aged 77 as daughter issues heartbreaking tribute to ‘well-known’ presenter
Tributes from far and wide have poured in for veteran broadcaster and journalist Christopher Thomas Young following his death at the age of 77.
The broadcaster was a familiar voice to listeners of BBC Radio Cornwall while he was also instantly recognisable to regular Anglia TV viewers in years gone by.
His cause of death has been cited as a “short illness” with his daughter Tamara leading the tributes.
She said in a statement: “He was a well-known voice on the station for many years.
“Our dad inspired a generation of young journalists as he guided them through the early years of their careers.
“His dedication to these important charities was a source of great pride to his family and a testament to his character.
“His integrity, wisdom and compassion were an inspiration to his friends, family and colleagues. His passing has left a gap in so many people’s lives.
“His family miss him so much but take comfort from the many people whose lives he touched.”
His funeral will take place in the Cornish city of Truro on Monday with his family asking for donations to be made to the charity Samaritans rather than giving flowers.
The charity was one close to Young’s heart as he would regularly volunteer for the organisation in his retirement.
Young also helped out at the Truro Food Bank, and his “dedication to these important charities was a source of great pride to his family and a testament to his character”, Henwood Funerals states.
The funeral company also branded Young a “highly-regarded journalist and much-loved partner to Linda and father to Jessamy, Trystan, Tamara and Alex”.
As well as the Truro Food Bank and Samaritans, Young was also a decades-long supporter of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
His brother Tim died of the illness when he was just a teenager.
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Young was born in Plymouth in 1947 and is said to have always possessed a strong sense for social justice.
Before his time at Anglia TV and BBC Radio Cornwall, Young plied his trade as a young journalist on the Daily Mirror’s training scheme.
From there, he moved on to work for several local papers in the South Devon area.
His move to on-screen for Anglia TV came in 1987 before finding a home at BBC Radio Cornwall a few years later.