Our Next Event…..
Tuesday, 28th February 2012
Guest Speakers: Ben Kay MBE & Lea Roberts
Members Tickets: £59 + VAT each
Non Members Tickets: £79 + VAT each
Subsequent Events in 2012
Thursday, 31st May 2012
Wednesday, 19th September 2012
Thursday, 29th November 2012
Speaker Profiles
Ben Kay MBE
A graduate in Sports Science from Loughborough University, Ben was born in Liverpool, the son of Lord Justice of Appeal Sir John Kay and first played rugby for his school, Merchant Taylors’, Crosby and then the Waterloo Club. He also represented England in the 1996 Students World Cup in South Africa, and also in the U18, U 19 and U21 England Teams.
Ben’s career in the game really matured after rugby union became a professional sport when, in 1999, he joined Leicester Tigers and took the opportunity to develop his game alongside the Club’s regular second row duo, Martin Johnson and South African Fritz van Heerden, to become a highly-rated middle of the lineout jumper. Following two games for England A against France, the second as Captain in 2000/01, Ben toured North America and Japan with the senior England squad later in 2001 and made his debut against Canada. He helped the Tigers to victory in the Heineken Cup in 2001 and 2002, by which time he had become a fixture in the England Team…..
Ben’s selection for England’s 2003 World Cup was inevitable and he played in every minute of every game except that against Uruguay. Despite his well-documented knock-on with the try line at his mercy, in the Final against Australia, England still secured a famous victory in injury time. After winning two Test Caps for the British Lions in New Zealand in 2005, Ben was the only player to play every minute of England’s 2007 World Cup campaign in France, culminating in the narrow loss against South Africa in the Final.
After further glory in the Heineken Cup, back-to-back victories in the Guinness Premiership, a grand total of 62 caps for England and an 11-year career at Leicester Tigers, Ben retired from the game in 2010 and has since developed a new career as a commentator with the TV Channel ESPN along with a fine reputation as an after-dinner speaker.
Lea Roberts
Lea hails from a family steeped in sporting tradition and he himself has always had a keen interest in sport. Indeed, he played professional rugby league for Halifax, after a serious injury playing as an amateur had almost put paid to his sporting prospects. On any Top Table that includes Lea, the conversation will always turn to sport, not to mention his wide knowledge, and of course his passion for Halifax RLFC.
After his retirement from rugby league, Lea’s natural wit and warm personality took him into the world of stand-up comedy where his ability to make people laugh without causing offence brought him much success and notoriety, particularly on the northern circuit, over many years, until his big break…….
In 2002, having already finished runner-up in the 2001 “Batchelors Cup-A-Soup” Comedy Challenge, perfoming at London’s Comedy Store, Lea was voted the outright winner in the ITV talent show, “Stand Up Britain” which was screened live on ITV1. Two years later he was invited back by ITV to perform in “That’s Entertainment” – a big budget UV variety showcase. Since then, Lea has become one of the country’s most sought after comedians on the corporate, cabaret and sporting circuits, with a well-earned reputation as an outstanding entertainer and raconteur.