Leeds Rhinos – My Relationship with Rugby League

Coming from a Yorkshire family but growing up with a Father in the RAF I was constantly reminded of my roots.

The fact we were a Yorkshire family was often mentioned. No matter where we lived my parents had local Newspapers posted to them. Sometimes random issues if something special was in them but always the Airedale & Wharfedale Observer, a weekly paper, and Monday’s Yorkshire Post which had a supplement giving a roundup of all the local Sport.

Lewis Jones (C Rugby League official site)

Yorkshire Cricket and Leeds RLFC (they weren’t the Rhinos yet) were very important.

Before my parents were married they would go on dates to Headingly to watch the Cricket in the Summer or Leeds in the Winter. My Dad’s favourite player was always Lewis Jones.

Leeds was always referred as ‘Home’. “We’re going Home for Summer” was a phrase we kids would dread. Our mates went to the Seaside, we went to Leeds. One year my mates went Camping in the South of France, two families and their Mums both said I could go with them – “you can’t, we’re going Home”

But one Easter, maybe two years before that fateful non-France holiday, those dreaded words were different.

“We’re going Home for Easter. We will go see Leeds play against Northern.”

Oh my… I  was going to be my first ever LIVE Rugby League match.

What I learnt this week 1st June to 7th June 2020

I may not do these posts weekly but I do tend to learn things each week. That said I struggled a little thinking of things to include today.

My interests include Reading, Writing, History, Nature and Science. I often write about topics around these areas of interest.

I watch a fair few Documentaries, though not so many recently. In fact watching Documentaries is often something I do to cope with Anxiety and Depression.

So, what did I learn this week?

My Ancestry and Family Myth

Growing up I was told many things about my Family, some are verifiable truths, others are vocal tradition. I’m aware that some of these stories are told in other parts of the family, with no alteration.

My Mother had a hand written Family Tree. I have a few of those notes following her death in December 2019.

I wrote recently in memory of my Father who died in 1989 and would have been 90 on 26th May 2020.

I decided to update the Family Tree I had started on Ancestry several years ago. I started by asking one of my Nieces for middle names and Date of Birth for her and her sister’s children. I had never paid for Membership, I was limited to the free access.

I decided to pay for better access so I could check Documents and verify facts. I found one family myth false quite quickly but can understand why it was probably passed to me in good faith.

I’ve since decided I will revisit this twice a year and try to find more. I intend to update the Family Tree each year in May & December. These are the months of my Patrents’ birth. So I’ll let my Membership lapse after a Month but I’ll sign up again each year in May and December.

So here is what I found in May 2020.