Our Next Event…..
Wednesday, 3rd October 2012
Guest Speakers: BEN KAY MBE & PADDY LENNOX
Tickets: £49.50 + VAT each
Our Subsequent Events in 2013
Dates to be advised shortly….
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.
Paddy Lennox
An Ireland-born comedian and actor, Paddy first burst onto the stage as a stand-up in 2001 and although his career was then interrupted by a request to perform in a couple of comedies at the Shakespeare Globe Theatre and then film some commercials abroad, he returned home to continue with his new passion.
He has been described as an engaging and extremely likeable entertainer with an ability to combine his observational routines with topical material. A very versatile performer, Paddy has already amassed some impressive theatre, film and TV credits as an actor. Indeed, as an accomplished comic performer, he has had some flattering reviews in many Ray Cooney farces. He has also voiced-over and appeared in numerous commercials.
Consequently, Paddy is very much in demand.