As a businessman and freemason Jamie Dutton believes in giving back and supporting the local community.
Jamie, 54, of Lepton, is a Rugby League fan and former player and now he’s helping support local clubs Newsome Panthers and Almondbury Spartans. He also sponsors Emley AFC in football and several junior clubs too.
Jamie’s company Honeycombe Design and Build is the main sponsor for the Panthers and it was his late father John who got him involved with the club.
“I lost my dad back in July and he was a very well respected local businessman who loved Rugby League,” said Jamie. “I grew up loving sport but particularly Rugby League.
“Since owning my own business I’ve wanted to sponsor local sports clubs that mean something to me. These clubs don’t have a lot of money and I get real enjoyment by helping them to succeed. I don’t provide sponsorship for thanks or my own ego, it’s because I believe you should put back into the community if you can.
“My dad got involved in the Panthers and that is why I’ve just become their main sponsor. I’ve known Craig Morgan, the chairman at Almondbury Spartans, for a very long time and we are good friends and so when he said he was creating a club back in 2018 and asked me to be involved I said yes.”
Jamie played Rugby League himself, playing from junior age at Underbank and then at Moldgreen. He rose through the age brackets to represent the latter at open age groups.
Whilst at Moldgreen he won nearly every amateur trophy that could be won, including the prestigious and oldest cup in the world, the Holliday Cup, on a few occasions. Jamie went on to captain Yorkshire against Australia at Thrum Hall in Halifax.
A proud family man with three daughters Isabelle, 26, Freya, 12, and Elsie, 10, Jamie has always supported his extended family too in their sporting activities.
Jamie is a member of the Unity 3930 masonic lodge and charity is a major part of what freemasonry is all about.
Jamie said: “We have done some fantastic things at the lodge. We bought King James’s School a new trophy cabinet and got a lovely thanks from the school but we don’t do it for that.
“A lot of people don’t know that I am a freemason but again this is another avenue I have gone down to help people. I’ve also been helping the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice in Huddersfield to convert some outdoor space into a garden. Myself and a few lads love helping the hospice out as it is a great cause and a much needed one.”
Jamie says sport plays a massive part in the life of local communities and, when times are tough, it’s more important than ever.
“I will continue to support those teams and clubs close to my heart,” he said. “I believe that these sports clubs are vital to the communities they are part of.
“Life is hard at the moment and these clubs don’t just bring a competitive spirit but a healthy life spirit too whether it be good for mental health, creating a social event for people to gather at or to inspire kids to progress into a career in sport.
“To me and my business that’s what it’s all about and that’s why I do it.”
