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End of an era as Terry Wogan says goodbye

Marie-Louise Muir | 18:52 UK time, Friday, 18 December 2009

So I cried at Wogan's final words on his breakfast show on Radio 2 this morning. I have to say that I'm a sucker for 1950's sentimental songs which were on the playlist in their sugary bucketload. "My funny Valentine" gets me every time. That combined with an audible catch in the great broadcaster's voice and I was away. I wasn't even a regular visitor but you always knew he was there. A bit like the speaking clock, stolid, dependable. although the speaking clock has never reduced me to tears.

I met Sir Terry a few years ago when I was working on a ´óÏó´«Ã½ NI tv series "Brian Kennedy on Song" and he was one of the talking heads. He was only supposed to be with us for 15 minutes but ended up staying with us for 45 mins and I remember thinking how much he reminded me of my dad. That old school charm with a twinkle in his eye and easy banter about the Irish songs he liked and didn't like. A generation of men who are sadly dying away.

Hearing the accolades to him on the 9 o'clock news this morning on Radio 2, Gordon Brown leading the praise, if you had just tuned in you would be forgiven for thinking that Limerick's finest son had popped his clogs. So there was more than a hint of ironyto hear Wogan off the back of the news repeat what Sarah Kennedy had said to him earlier this morning about it being good to hear your own obituary while you're still alive.

Enjoy your lie-ins Sir Terry. It isn't just the TOGs who will miss you.

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