Chairman Kenny Sykes had a surprise for Hunslet legend Peter Jarvis at the recent Players Association Launch where he announced Jarvo would succeed Grahame Liles as Club President.

Kenny explained “Grahame was a tremendous servant of the Club over many years, a very difficult act to follow. We discussed it as a Board and Jarvo was the obvious appointment. It made it extra special that Margaret Liles was also there to be part of the presentation with fellow Vice Presidents Audrey Groves and Ian Johnson.”

Unusually for Jarvo he was speechless on the day, visibly taken aback by the honour. We’ve since caught up with him for a more considered reaction.

“I was genuinely moved by having such an honour bestowed on me. To follow in the footsteps of a great man like Grahame Liles makes it very special and I’ll do my best to serve the Club in the same way he did.”

Jarvo’s association with the Club started in the late 50’s when he was a regular at Parkside with his young pals. “I remember our first ‘solo flight’ was the Championship Final against St Helens at Odsal in 1959. We lost the game 44-22 but the day got worse after we’d spent our bus fare home on pork pies. We kept hopping on and off the bus on the way home to avoid the conductor but our luck ran out at Stanningley and we had to make the long walk back to Hunslet.”

Jarvo didn’t play rugby at school but went to watch his mates play in the Hunslet U17s Market District Boys Club, the opposition, were short of players so Jarvo agreed to play for them. He not only picked up the Man of the Match award but also caught the eye of Hunslet coach John Groves who quickly took him under his wing. He played through to the U19s before featuring as a trialist for the A Team against Keighley.

“My debut didn’t end well. Our scrum half, Ray Abbey, did what scrum halves did in those days and started a robust argument that ended with me being sent off by referee Fred Lindop. I thought that was the end of my dreams of playing for the first team but I must have impressed Cyril Plenderleith who duly signed me.”

Jarvo played 44 times for the first team. “Additional payments kicked in at 50 appearances so I’m sure Harry (Jepson) wanted to move me on to save a few bob.” he joked.

Next stop was Bramley where he became a firm favourite with teammates and supporters alike. “I also played a few games with Batley and Bradford.” It was at Bradford that Peter came across the rugby league legend Maurice Bamford. “Maurice coached the second team and I was his man on the pitch to bring the young ‘uns along.”

It’s testament to the influence Jarvo had in the dressing room that Bamford took him with him to Halifax, Huddersfield and Bramley, where he succeeded him as first team coach.

Jarvo returned to his beloved Hunslet in 1985 after an approach from Club Director Jack Lunn on Bonfire Night. One of the first things he did was appoint Leeds and Great Britain legend David Ward as the Team Coach, with him holding the position of Team Manager. “A number of people advised me against it saying he would end up taking my job but for me it was about doing what was best for the Club. We were a very good team. Wardy is a great bloke and raised standards around the Club.” Under their guidance the Club went on to win the league, and promotion, in 1986/87,  just losing out to Swinton in the Championship Final at Old Trafford the same year.

“We had a great team with pace, flair and no shortage of toughness. We lost Terry Webb for the Final, and that was probably a determining factor in the result. Nevertheless it was a great period in the Club’s history and something I am extremely proud to have been involved with.”

Jarvo stepped down from coaching but remained involved with Hunslet through his association with the Ex-Parksider, the most exclusive club in sport. Ever the organiser the Club called on his expertise again and he joined the Board in 2013, being instrumental in bringing in major sponsors. He left the Board in 2023 but still remained involved in a Vice President role.

So what does the future hold for the new President – “I’ll do whatever is needed to support Dean and take the Club forward. For starters I’ll be working alongside Roy Sampson and Keith Mitchell to re-engage former players with the Club. We have already been discussing plans for a Hall of Fame event, so watch this space. With everything going on in the game at the moment 2025 is going to be a big year for the Club. We need everyone pulling in the same direction to make sure we are where we need to be at the end of it. I’ll be playing my part and ask every Hunslet supporter to do the same.”

So we shall again