THE SAD passing of Ray French MBE is a great loss for Rugby League.

Apart from a successful playing career he was the voice of Rugby League in a distinguished broadcasting association with BBC television and Radio Merseyside. He was also a renowned author and revelled in a variety of additional roles across our game.

Ray for many years was heavily involved with the Great Britain RL Lions Association and their annual lunch event. His passion and respect for those players who had represented the Lions in the Antipodes was very evident.

His warm and friendly personality encouraged many of the Lions, their families and friends along to enjoy the special camaraderie.

He never declined any invitation to be a speaker or a guest at a Rugby League function across both the amateur and professional game. So long as he could enjoy the company of players and supporters, he was happy.

I recall he made several long journeys down to Bath in the 1980s when the fledging Midlands and South-West Amateur Rugby League was formed.

He was always keen to help with fund-raising activities and particularly involved when giving advice and guidance to the young players, many of whom were getting their first taste of Rugby League.

His background as a teacher was evident as he put everyone at ease and told some marvellous stories about his rugby playing career.

In recent times our sport has celebrated its first knighthood and there is little doubt that a sportsman and a gentleman of the calibre of Ray French would have been worthy of such a high award for his amazing service to Rugby League.

Simon Foster, Beverley

A GREAT LOSS

I always have this image of Ray French surrounded by opposition players with the ball in one hand held aloft, ready to offload to one of his team-mates.

I got his autograph, along with others like Roger Millward and Tommy Bishop, when I popped round the corner to the Willows when the Great Britain squad were training in readiness for the 1968 World Cup.

He was later a very good commentator with great knowledge of the game. He was a top player and an even better person.

His passing is a great loss to the game of Rugby League.

Brian Shaw, Salford

MEMORIES OF RAY

It is a long time ago now, but I was lucky enough to spend many rewarding times in the company of Ray French: at RL and RL writers’ functions; in lots of press boxes and in particular on the Great Britain tours of the Eighties and Nineties to Australia and New Zealand. He was the very best of men.

His qualities will rightly be eulogised elsewhere and while I shall treasure his memory for so many virtues I shall not forget his sense of humour. He was a fount of stories and a most entertaining after-dinner speaker.

One of my favourite tales concerned an early experience of his as a Rugby Union international.