Sir Bobby's legacy inspires new generation

A County Durham primary school has welcomed a special visitor to celebrate the life and legacy of a North East football legend.

Langley Park Primary School hosted Mark Robson, youngest son of Sir Bobby Robson, who spoke to pupils aged four to 11 about his father’s childhood, football career and charitable work.

Located close to where Sir Bobby grew up, the school invited Mark as part of its CARE principles, promoting compassion, ambition, respect and excellence.

Children heard how Sir Bobby began playing football in the village’s back lanes and worked as an apprentice electrician at the local colliery before embarking on his football career.

Mark also brought along several of his father’s England caps for pupils to hold.

He said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Langley Park Primary School.  

“Mum and dad grew up here, they met here, and I think this visit is something my dad would have loved to do. 

“He’d have enjoyed all the fantastic questions the pupils asked as much as I did. 

“Dad was a pupil at Langley Park Infants and then at nearby Waterhouses School before he began work in the colliery.

“He was proud of his County Durham roots and took the work ethic he learned here wherever his football career took him. 

“It was a real treat to share a little bit about his life with the Langley Park pupils and I appreciate the invitation to visit.”

David Mordue, headmaster at Langley Park Primary School, added: “It’s wonderful for us to have someone like Sir Bobby connected to Langley Park. 

“The values we hold as a school are the values he lived throughout his life, wherever he was in the world, and that’s inspirational for our pupils.

“We loved welcoming Mark to join our assembly and look forward to supporting the work of The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. 

“The importance of being caring is something we’re always keen to promote within our school.”

The visit coincides with the launch of Play For Sir Bobby, a new fundraising initiative encouraging schools to support The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation through a range of activities.

Langley Park pupils are planning their own fundraising efforts later this month, with proceeds supporting the £30 million Sir Bobby Robson Institute.

Construction of the cancer drug trials centre began at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital in April, with a final £500,000 still needed to complete the building.

Once operational, the institute will support pioneering cancer treatments benefiting patients across the North East, North Cumbria and North Yorkshire.

Read more about the Sir Bobby Robson Institute and its potential to transform cancer treatment in our recent interview with Mark Robson and Professor Ruth Plummer here.

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