Paras Pay Tribute to General Sir Michael Gray at Beverley Minster

Paratroopers and representatives from across the Royal Navy and the Army paid their respects to General Sir Michael Gray, who was laid to rest at Beverley Minster today.

Sir Michael, an alumni of Beverley Grammar School, died aged 78 following a glittering military career that took in some of the top posts in the British Army – and included more than 1,000 jumps from a plane.

Streets were closed as Sir Michael’s body was brought to the Minster, where it was carried inside by members of the Parachute Regiment.

Members of the East Yorkshire Division of former paratroopers were joined at the funeral by soldiers who served with Sir Michael, as well as a significant number of represenatives of the Royal Navy.

Family and friends of Sir Michael were also in attendance, all in surroundings in keeping with the achievements of Sir Michael.

His military career took him all over the world, including to dangerous hotpsots such Suez, Aden and Northern Ireland and during his career with the Parachute Regiment he completed more than 1,000 jumps.

His first schooling was at Beverley Grammar School, but after two years won a maths scholarship to Christ’s Hopsital, Horsham, before studying at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, and was commissioned in 1953.

He married Juliette Noon in 1958, and they had three children – Simon, Patrick and Elizabeth – who all survive him.

Sir Michael’s list of achievements is indeed long.

He was the last commander of the 16th Parachute Brigade and from 1990-1993 was Colonel Commandant of the Parachute Regiments. He received the Legion d’honneur in 1994.

Following years of active service, he was military attache to Washington, before being promoted to major general and made defence attache.

In 1984 he became Chief of Staff of the British Army of the Rhine and was knighted in 1986 on his promotion to the rank of lieutenant general.

After his retirement Sir Michael held numerous posts, including Lieutenant of the Tower of London, Honorary Life Brother of Hull Trinity House and Deputy Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire.

He was also chairman of the Airborne Assault Normandy Trust, was a patron of the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington and was also a member and vice-president of Beverley Civic Society.

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