Funeral held for Rob Burrow's father Geoff

More than 100 people have gathered for the funeral of Geoff Burrow, the father of rugby league star and Motor Neurone Disease (MND) campaigner Rob.

Mourners attended the service at Pontefract Crematorium for the 75-year-old who died on 30 March after a short illness.

A notice by Charles E Ashton & Son funeral directors said: "Beloved husband of Irene, proud dad of Claire and Jo and now reunited with his treasured son Rob."

The family had asked for donations in his memory to be divided between the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds and the British Heart Foundation.

Leeds Rhinos said Geoff Burrow had been a "tireless campaigner" for the MND community following Rob's diagnosis with the disease in December 2019, and continued to do so after his son's death in June 2024.

Last November, he attended the opening of the Rob Burrow Centre, saying it proved "dreams come true".

The £6.8m centre was funded through donations to the Leeds Hospitals Charity, with much of the cash raised with the help of a campaign spearheaded by the rugby league player's friend and former team-mate Kevin Sinfield.

Speaking at the time of his death, Craige Richardson, director of estates and facilities at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "Geoff played a huge role in the development of the new Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease.

"He came to every stakeholder and development meeting over the two years, and he championed all the work taking place to build the centre.

"He had so much energy and enthusiasm to help create a legacy for Rob and support the MND community."

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