Reg Jessop, rugby union stalwart

Reg Jessop, who has died at 95, was a pillar of the Leeds rugby union community whose love for the sport spanned almost a century.
Reg JessopReg Jessop
Reg Jessop

Hailing from Morley, he served as a player, referee and organiser, and rose to become president of both the Yorkshire Rugby Football Union and Morley Rugby Football Union Club.

His daughter, Sue, described him as a “pure bred Yorkshireman” who always tried to make sure that he lived next to a rugby ground, whether in Roundhay or Morley.

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Growing up in Walker Place, Morley, Mr Jessop went on to captain Morley RFC as a hooker in the 1955/56 season.

He became the club’s first vice president in 1979, before being named as president for two seasons in 1981.

Meanwhile, he worked as a rugby union referee and he served as chairman of Yorkshire Rugby Union Referees.

He lived in Lancashire for a time while working as an electrical engineer, but later returned to Leeds and took a post at the Yorkshire Electricity Board.

He is survived by his daughters and four grandchildren.

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