I was saddened to read a couple of weeks ago about the passing of Ray French at the age of 85. For those who didn't know about him, he was a former RU and RL International player who became the voice of Rugby League on TV, radio and several newspapers

My memories of Ray go right back to my childhood at Knowsley Road Junior School in 1950. When bad weather curtailed playtimes at school, we were allowed to stay in the warm and dry of a classroom and read comics, often under the supervision of one of the older boys. I can clearly recall that one of these older boys was Ray French (he’d be 11 and I was 9 at the time). Ray was a great story teller and his off-the-cuff adventure stories kept us younger lads enthralled.

Ray remained a good friend who helped me out on numerous occasions with the organisation and administration of both professional and amateur rugby league in Carlisle and Barrow. In fact he also gave me some advice regarding my book about growing up in St Helens and then a later one about Rugby League in Carlisle.
RIP Ray

His funeral is on August 15th. A meet up after at Moss Lane club 12.30

His funeral is on August 15th. A meet up after at Moss Lane club 12.30

Ray was 2 years below me at Cowley. We played in the same team along with another great, Ken Large. Usually our game was on a Saturday morning but I believe Ray often played a second game in the afternoon at Moss Lane. Ray and Ken knocked on my door in 'arris St. one evening to try and sell me a dog. Ken had a further request, could he ask my girlfriend out. I never told her; her answer might have been different to mine!

Bert wrote: Thu Aug 07, 2025 7:24 pm Ken Large. Ray and Ken knocked on my door in 'arris St. one evening to try and sell me a dog.

Ah, Ken Large. Remember that great try Voll scored at Wembley after a length of the field interpassing move with him. He also held the 100 yards sprint record at Cowley for many years

The try is here.
https://www.google.com/search?q=vollenh ... N2m98,st:0

Great stuff HORT. I was there with my fiancee, late wife Christine. I went there by car driven by a fellow student to central London and was met by late brother-in-law, taken to their house in Surrey and then to Wembley the folowing day

Nice tribute to Ray ealier before the match I see.

Alan, you may be right about Ken holding the 100yd record but there were 2 other fast lads in his year, both in the Parthians. One I can visualise but not remember his name. The other was "Flossy" Ingram. Somewhere I have a photo of me being presented with the House athletics trophy on behalf of the Parthians. I did very little but these 2 lads got plenty of points. In the 100yd final they timed 9.6sec. Unfortunately it was a false start by the lad I can't remember but Flossy tied with him. On grass and for a school boy this was remarkable. The starter was Murns and the starting pistol failed when he tried to recall them.

Nodding off last night I remembered the other lad's name. Even better I remembered it this morning; not bad after almost 70 years. It's gone at the moment, are yes! Reg Wilson.

Bert wrote: Mon Sep 15, 2025 9:17 pm In the 100yd final they timed 9.6sec.

I don't want to start a pedant's revolt but either your memory is askew or the teacher's stopwatch was about 10% too fast. The World Record in the 1950s was 9.6 seconds, held by McDonald Bailey if my memory is correct

Again you're probably right Alan. Maybe a touch of Chinese Whispers or Flossy's dad was time keeping.