Well done and well deserved for his services to rugby--commentating apart that is!!

I'd love to hear him commentate on his own ceremony.

"Queen Elizabeth thur…and thur's a corgi! Why oh why do people bring dogs to these ceremonies?" Or something funnier involving her former amateur club…

Congratulations to Ray. Well deserved.

His commentaries are open to MUCH debate.

But as for his commitment to the game...he bows to no-one.

Congratulations Ray. You deserve the honour. Today we bow to you.

If Ray French could pass on his knowledge and love of the game in his commentary, without sounding like a Northern stereotype, he'd be awesome.

Still, a well deserved award. Enjoy your trip to the palace, Ray.

Congraulations!

played union for england too. never knew that.

"Oohhhhhh, there's Prince Edward (camera shows Prince Phillip) that fourteen stone, six-foot-three former Shelshwig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Gluksburg amateur ..."

And thus, instant membership of the Old Boy Network ?

Congratulations to Ray and also congratulations to Dave Smith, ex-Workington Town player and father of ex-Town player Brett Smith (coach of Maryport ARLFC), who has been awarded the MBE for his work with the Rising Son charity which he founded to help drug addicts following the death of his son from an overdose.

Great thread this.

"Oohhhhhh, and has he got his MBE? Noo e hasn't! (receives medal) YEEEEEEEEES! E has!"

I do hope the implication there isn't that the only reason Ray French received an MBE is because he played Union for England 50 years ago Admiral?

Bit of a cheap shot at everything Ray has done with his life and career since then if it is.

Congratulations Ray.

Well deserved honour.

Well deserved though.

Maybe it is for services to Rugby Union .... He's been putting people off terrestrial televised League coverage for years.

Very knowledgeable, Ray. I enjoy his commentaries even today, though many think he is past his sell-by date. Well deserved.

i did just actually spit my beer all over my laptop

Well deserved, never mind the commentary side ( will never please everyone there) yet an award for a fine unasumming man, who has given an much to the game in both codes.

"And Roy French, the 6'4'' former schoolteacher, steps up to collect his KBE from King Elizabeth"

Maybe not. French is far more worthy of a gong than the vast majority of those getting awards considering the efforts he has put in for sport (even though he is a terrible commentator). Far more worthy than say Mike Catt, a mediocre player notable mainly for not being able to rise to the level of a minor speed bump when facing Lomu. He is getting a similar award - why?

Why do people think he is such a bad commentator? I actually enjoy listening to him.

Seeing that Footie Ref Howard Webb got one,then why not Ray,,Congratulations Ray,well deserved..

He has a great knowledge and love for the sport let us all congratulate him and not mock, as a sport we dont get enough recognition , Mike Catt why? what has he done, achieved? we would all like to be payed for playing a sport, for me you have to go beyond that with charitable or voluntary work to deserve an award. Johnny Whiteley i believe got a MBE, should have been Sir Johnny Whiteley with the work he has put in over many a decade.

Me too. In my opinion he's up there with the legends of sports commentary - Murray Walker, Bill McLaren, Ted Lowe, Peter O'Sullevan, etc.

Hearing his voice reminds me of watching Grandstand back in the 80's and 90's. Happy days!

And how typical of some rugby league fans on here to take the negative approach and seek to rubbish everything connected with the game.



Well done, Ray.