THE funeral of Grahame Liles, the former chairman of Hunslet, and a past President of the Rugby Football League, will take place on Tuesday 24 September 2024.

The service will take place at the Holy Trinity Church, Church Street, Rothwell, Leeds LS26 0QL at 11.45am.

Mourners are invited to celebrate Grahame Liles’ life, afterwards, at the nearby Carlton cricket club, WF3 3QU.

Mr Liles, who was a long-term supporter and backer of both Hunslet RLFC and Carlton cc, was raised in the village of Ouzlewell Green, next to Carlton. His son, Richard, said: “Dad had many happy memories of his roots, of which he was very proud, and said that he wished to be buried in Rothwell, and to be commemorated in the shadow of his childhood haunt, the Bushy Cliffe wood, which overlooks both Carlton and Ouzewell Green.”

He added: “The family has been very moved by the many supportive tributes received from so many quarters, in particular from the Hunslet and Carlton clubs. And we also want to pay tribute to the staff at St James’ hospital, in Leeds, who were incredible.

“Dad spent his last three months in there and the quality of care and compassion he received was so touching, from the dinner lady, named ‘Mercy’ (very apt) who would talk to him every day and has kept in contact with the family after Dad passed, right up to the consultant. They do not receive the recognition they deserve, and they make such a difference at the hardest time of life.”

Meanwhile, Peter Jarvis has added to the tributes. Grahame Liles, who passed away on Wednesday 5 September at the age of 89, was on the board when Jarvis coached the side, securing the Division Two championship, alongside David Ward, in 1986/87. ‘Jarvo’ said: “I first came across Grahame properly in the mid-1980s, when I first coached Hunslet, although I’d known of him some time earlier when our sons played for the same side.

“As a director and as a chairman he was always very supportive of his coaches and let us get on with the job. He was a very honest man, and a true gentleman.”

The Liles family will be attending this Sunday’s game with Midlands Hurricanes. A minutes applause will take place prior to kick off to allow supporters to pay their tribute to Grahame.