Tributes Paid To Leicester Tigers Legend & Former Little Bowden Headteacher

Tributes are being paid to Bleddyn Jones – a former Headteacher of Little Bowden Primary School and Leicester Tigers legend – who has died aged 72.

He led the school for 15 years until he retired in 2004, and played more than 300 first-team games for the Tigers in the 70s, before commentating on games for BBC Radio Leicester for over 30 years.

Bleddyn’s Welsh tones were synonymous with Tigers matchday through hundreds of games as commentator and summariser, including five European Cup Finals and every Premiership Final at Twickenham, and he was generous in sharing a well-told story to go with almost every one of them.

Bleddyn Jones Pic: Leicester Tigers

Club chairman Peter Tom said: “Bleddyn was such a lovely man, one of the nicest you could ever wish to meet, and he was part of this club for such a long time.

“After arriving at the club totally unannounced as a young man, he established himself at fly-half and barely missed a game for the next nine years.

“Then, of course, that wonderful Welsh voice became a central part of matchdays as a radio commentator.

“Bleddyn had a huge number of friends within the game, which speaks volumes for his character, and everyone at the club is deeply saddened to hear of his passing.

“On behalf of players, staff and supporters, I send the Tigers’ very deepest condolences and best wishes to his family and friends.”

Tigers will stage a minute’s silence in his honour ahead of kick-off in the European Challenge Cup semi-final at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Friday evening.