Remembering Uri - Patron of Weston Park Cancer Charity

On the first anniversary of his passing, we’re remembering Uriah Rennie - a dedicated Patron and friend to Weston Park Cancer Charity.

Uriah moved to Sheffield from Jamaica at the age of six and proudly regarded the city as his hometown. His career was groundbreaking: he was the first black Premier League referee, officiating over 300 Premier League matches between 1997 and 2008.

Alongside his achievements in football, Uriah made a lasting impact across Sheffield. He served as a magistrate, as President of Hallam FC, and was officially installed as Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University.

In 2023, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University in recognition of his contribution to communities across Sheffield, including his support for the Sheffield Federation for School Sports and Weston Park Cancer Centre.

This September, Uriah’s friend and GB Olympian, Joslyn Hoyte-Smith MBE, will honour his memory by taking part in Walk As One 2026 with a group of friends. Jos’ group will walk together on Sunday 13th September to celebrate Uriah’s life and legacy.

Joslyn Hoyte-Smith MBE said:

“I had the privilege of knowing Uri when I became a Trustee of Sheffield International Venues and Sheffield City Trust. We sat on the Grants Committee together in 2002 and quickly became good friends.

“We spent many hours together helping to allocate funding to local charities and community projects. Uri cared deeply about people and was passionate about making a difference wherever he could. At charity events, he would always arrive with his partner and make time to speak to every table, making everyone feel welcome and valued.

“Uri was also a long-standing and loyal supporter of Weston Park Cancer Charity and was honoured to become a Patron because of his dedication to helping cancer patients and their families.

“In memory of Uri and the incredible compassion he showed to so many people, I am proud to be fundraising for this wonderful charity. Any donation, no matter the size, will help continue the amazing work that meant so much to him and will support patients and families facing cancer today. Thank you for supporting me.”

Cat Rhone, Deputy CEO of Weston Park Cancer Charity, said:

“Uri was an incredibly devoted supporter of Weston Park Cancer Charity and we miss him dearly.

“We are so grateful to Jos for supporting our Walk As One event, which brings together people who have lost loved ones to cancer.

“We hope Uri would be proud of our continued work to improve the lives of people facing a cancer diagnosis across our region.”

Get behind Jos and her team by supporting their fundraising efforts.

Join Jos and Team Weston Park at Walk As One!