The culmination of a year-long celebration of the150th anniversary of the birth of rugby in the city of Leeds, organised under the auspices of the Leeds Rugby Foundation Heritage Committee, will see a unique event held at Leeds Minster on Saturday 29th November at 11.30am, which is open to all.
The commemoration, which will be attended by the Deputy Lieutenant representing HM the Queen, the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Leeds and the Rhinos’ first team squad, together with a number of other sporting and civic dignitaries, including Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, will feature poetry, a choir and inspirational talks.
Among the presentations, Leeds Rhinos head coach Brian McDermott will highlight the qualities of human life that rugby hones, while star player and inspirational speaker, Foundation trustee Jamie Jones-Buchanan will talk about, ‘rugby, faith and me.’
Chairman of the Heritage Committee, Phil Caplan, commented: “So much work has been put in by so many unsung volunteers to make this a really special year for the club, in a city where rugby is such a vital nutrient in its lifeblood.
“We began with a champagne breakfast on Woodhouse Moor in March to re-enact the exact date of the first-ever meeting of enthusiasts and this Minster event is a perfect end, which will incorporate all aspects of the sport.
“The prestigious venue, a jewel in the city and one which had direct rugby connections, is the ideal setting and we indebted to Rev Steve Mitchell, Master of the Music Simon Lindley and Rev Canon Charles Dobbin for their assistance, input and enthusiasm.”
The event will also formally pay tribute to the players who fell in the First World War on the centenary of its outbreak, led by David Oxley CBE – the Foundation’s Life President – together with the place of the Leeds Parish Church rugby side at the turn of the twentieth century, who were the leading club in the city and based out of what is now the Minster.
Among the guests will be relatives of John Wilkinson Birch, who played for the Parish Church in the 1890’s before transferring to Leeds and representing his country in the deciding Test of the first-ever international series, against New Zealand in 1908.
His grandson John Birch commented: “It is a great honour to know that my grandfather helped transform the Leeds club in 1901 into the great power it is today.
“His devotion has rubbed off on all our family and given us a special bond with the sport in the city.”
Hunslet-based engineering firm A.Taylor & Son, who have sponsored the year’s 150 celebrations, which coincided with their own century-and-a-half anniversary, will also be present.
The choir will be made up of pupils from Roundhay School, Morley Academy and Priesthorpe and some of the poetry will be read by students from ‘Try-Zone’, the Leeds Rugby Foundation’s in-house educational establishment.
Phil Caplan added: “It should be a memorable morning the like of which has not been seen before and we hope as many people as possible can come along to share it.”
Tickets are not required for the Minster and afterwards, all attending, are welcome to a post-event reception at the Tetley on Hunslet Road, behind the Minster, where there is also parking available.