Gordon Sparks, 61, died after battling cancer
(Picture: BBC Radio Devon)BBC radio presenter Gordon Sparks has died, aged 61, after a battle with cancer.
The BBC Radio Devon breakfast show presenter and sports commentator, affectionately known as Sparksy, spent his final days at St Luke’s Hospice in Plymouth.
Sparks had presented the breakfast show at the station for many years and commentated on Plymouth Argyle FC games for 32 years.
He is being mourned by many sporting greats such as Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies MBE, as well as his colleagues at BBC Radio Devon.
On Sunday a post on his Facebook page said Sparks had a “quick and peaceful passing”.
In one of his own final updates on Twitter, Sparks said his tumour had grown “slightly bigger”.
“Lungs not responding to antibiotics. New tumour on liver. Soon to be transferred to St Luke’s Hospice for what I’m told will be a period of weeks or short number of months,” he said.
Sparks had severe breathing difficulties on Thursday and he was taken to hospital. He said he spent 17 hours in “the infamous ambulance queue”.
After a bout of tests he was transferred to St Luke’s Hospice.
In his final post to Twitter, Sparks thanked the nurses on his ward.
Tributes have been flowing for the radio presenter.
Olympian Sharron Davies MBE described him as “the sporting voice of Plymouth”, while Chris Wood, the drummer in band Bastille, said he was “absolutely gutted”.
Sad to hear we’ve lost @SparksyOnRadio Gordon Sparks the sporting voice of Plymouth, fellow janner & friend. He’ll be very missed especially by all those at @HeraldPAFC RIP Sparkzy x
— Sharron Davies MBE (@sharrond62) October 16, 2022
“He’ll forever be an enormous part of the Argyle story and was the voice that pulled us all closer to home over the airwaves for years. A lovelier man you couldn’t find and an irreplaceable talent,” Mr Wood said.
Plymouth Argyle FC chairman Simon Hallet said: “Passionate Argyle fan; warm, empathetic host; friend to many; beloved husband, father and, more recently, grandfather….Gordon played all of these roles, but the one that I will most remember him for was as a consummate professional.”
Argyle Chairman @SimonHallett pays tribute to @SparksyOnRadio
— Plymouth Argyle FC (@Argyle) October 16, 2022
🗣 "Passionate Argyle fan; warm, empathetic host; friend to many; beloved husband, father and, more recently, grandfather….Gordon played all of these roles"#pafc
