‘Simply the best’: Rob Burrow’s wife shares moving tribute to rugby player after his death
Rob Burrow’s wife has paid tribute to her rugby player husband who died last week aged 41 after a battle with motor neurone disease (MND).
In a moving tribute, his wife Lindsey said the former Leeds Rhinos player was “simply the best”.
It came as Burrow’s final message before he died emerged: “Whatever your personal battle, be brave and face it. Every single day is precious. Don’t waste a moment.”
Burrow, who began fundraising and campaigning to raise awareness of MND after his diagnosis, added: “I hope one day we find a cure and we live in a world free of MND.”
The message was played as part of the BBC documentary There’s Only One Rob Burrow.
His wife said: “Although we knew this day would arrive, I am somehow still feeling at a loss for words that our loving, kind, caring husband and father has departed,” she said in a statement.
“I was incredibly proud and fortunate to call Rob my husband.
“I am unbelievably proud of the campaigning he’s done to raise awareness and the millions of pounds that have been raised in his name for MND charities.
“I would like to thank the Rugby League community and everyone for their outpouring of love and support since Rob’s diagnosis. I truly appreciate every message of support, and fundraising that has been done,” she added.
The Prince of Wales with Rob Burrow, his wife Lindsey Burrow and their children in January. Pic: Reuters
“My priority is to make Rob proud, and to bring our three children up as Rob would want and ensure their happiness and wellbeing.
“We will continue to keep Rob’s legacy alive. We will continue to ‘bang the drum’ and do our best to try and help others.
“We take comfort from how much people’s love and continued support meant to Rob through his most vulnerable times.
“He was simply the best.”
Rob Burrow with his wife Lindsey and their daughters. Pic: PA
Meanwhile, a ceremony to mark the breaking of the ground of the Rob Burrow Centre for MND at Leeds’ Seacroft Hospital went ahead as planned on Monday at Burrow’s request, with his family saying he “would be looking down and smiling”.
Burrow’s close friend and former teammate Kevin Sinfield attended the ceremony, along with Burrow’s parents Geoff and Irene Burrow, and his sisters Joanne Hartshorn and Claire Burnett.
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Emotional groundbreaking at Burrow’s MND centre
The family said Burrow would have wanted them to be there as construction work started on the state-of-the-art purpose-built care centre.
Mrs Burrow told reporters: “I said this is what Rob would want and I think he’d be proud that we all pulled ourselves together and got the strength to come, and we’re doing it for Lindsey and the kids.
“He’ll be looking down on us and he’ll be going ‘thumbs up’. We’re so proud to be here and it’s amazing what you can achieve.”
Rob Burrow playing for Leeds Rhino. Pic: PA
Mr Burrow said: “It’s amazing what a little man can achieve. You can achieve big things.
“As Rob says, in a world full of adversity you must dare to dream. We’re dreaming of when this opens.”
Burrow’s rugby league legacy will be the focal point of Saturday’s Challenge Cup final day at Wembley with a series of tributes lined up in his honour.
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‘His twinkly eyes lit up a room’
A minute’s silence will be staged before both the men’s and women’s finals while a minute’s applause will also take place in the seventh minute of each match – Burrow wore the number seven shirt for Leeds – as well as the schools and 1895 cup finals.
Burrow spent his entire rugby league career with Leeds Rhinos and helped them win eight Super League titles.
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In 2019 – two years after his retirement – Burrow revealed his MND diagnosis and began fundraising and campaigning to raise awareness of the disease and to improve care and research.
Before his death, Burrow spearheaded a £6.8m charity appeal for Leeds Hospitals Charity, where he received care, for a centre for those with the disease living in and around the city.
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Since Burrow’s death was announced on Sunday evening, the appeal has received around 1,000 donations.
He was also made an MBE in the 2021 New Year Honours list for his services to rugby league and the MND community and was promoted to a CBE in the 2024 New Year Honours.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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