Vale John Cargher: signs off just days after preparing his last show:

ABC Radio presenter John Cargher has died just days after preparing his last Singers of Renown program for Radio National.

Cargher, aged 89, decided to retire due to ill health a few weeks ago after more than 40 years of broadcasting. He had hosted Singers Of Renown on Radio National since 1966.

According to his ABC biography, Cargher spent his formative years in England, Germany and Spain before migrating to Australia in 1951.

He managed several music stores and presented a classical music program on commercial radio in Melbourne before joining the ABC in 1959.

In 1966, he began presenting Singers of Renown and in 1987 he was made a member of the Order of Australia for services to music.

Because of his ill health Julie Copeland introduced the last show on his behalf. Listen to that show at the link below.