Former BBC North West Tonight presenter, Beccy Barr, has died at the age of 46 after being diagnosed with incurable abdominal cancer in 2023. Barr worked at the BBC regional TV outlet from 2013 until 2019 before becoming a firefighter for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS). Her former colleague, Annabel Tiffin, described her as “a feisty, fearless woman”.
Barr followed in her father’s footsteps when she joined LFRS’s Red Watch in Blackburn, where she was known for her dedication and courage. The service released a statement describing her as “an enthusiastic and warm person who became an inspiration to many”. The fire service expressed condolences to her family and friends.
BBC North West Tonight presenter, Roger Johnson, also paid tribute to Barr, saying: “Beccy was courageous in so many ways. In the way she faced her illness, of course, but she also had the courage to walk away from a successful TV career to retrain as a firefighter. She wanted to make a difference and she excelled at that, too.”
Lancaster and Wyre MP Cat Smith and Chris Brindley, editor of BBC North West, were among many who paid tribute on social media. Brindley said the journalist and presenter was a much-loved part of the team, while Smith said Barr made the world a better place.
Barr began her journalism career at the Blackpool Citizen at the age of 22. She then worked for Bloomberg News and CNBC in New York before returning to Lancashire and joining the BBC. In addition to her work as a journalist and firefighter, Barr was also a Girlguiding leader and a participant in triathlons, including IronmanUK. She is survived by her daughter, Hannah
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