Everyone at Moss Lane congratulates President Ray French on the well deserved appointment of an MBE in the New Years honours list. Although the award is for services to Rugby League the club would like to take the opportunity of thanking him for all that he has done for LSH.

“I was totally shocked” he said. “So many people do so much in different forms of life and I am just one of them. Rugby has been my life, both codes, and I have enjoyed every minute of it both on and off the pitch”.

Ray has been overwhelmed by the volume of emails, texts, letters, cards and phone calls from all parts of the world and says his biggest current problem is replying to them all.

Not surprisingly his family are absolutely delighted with the honour and are now awaiting the visit to Buckingham Palace with great anticipation.

So too is Ray who, in celebratory mood, confided that he would be taking his wife, Helen, on a special trip to one of the up-market charity shops in St Helens for a new outfit.

John Williams