The club’s achievements and efforts were recognised at the 17th Lancashire County Rugby Football Union Awards Dinner held at Preston Grasshoppers on Friday June 8.

Secretary Andrew Perry was named as the “Peter Atkinson Club Person of the Year” for not only all his unstinting efforts on behalf of the Vale of Lune but as a Lancashire Committee member. How the late Peter Atkinson would have purred with pride and delight at such a deserved recipient. Andrew is the second Vale official to receive this prestigious award, the first being Fred Swarbrick in the 2002/03 season.

The playing surfaces to be found at Powder House Lane are second to none but they do require constant maintenance and care by a dedicated and enthusiastic team of volunteers who are colourfully referred to as the “Grand Cru.” Leader of this team is Gerald Bird, who in is first year as Chairman of Ground, received the accolade, much to his surprise, of Groundsman of the Year and Gerald was the first to acknowledge and praise all the members of his hard working squad over a demanding season.

After Chairman, Geoff Marsden, has given a tutorial on cheese board etiquette, he stepped up to receive an award for hosting the Blacksticks Blue Junior Finals Challenge day at the Vale.

However, it was not just the club’s administrators who were honoured, Vale Ladies player, Shelby Grimes, was voted the most improved Lancashire Ladies player.

The Vale party were joined on Table 5 by two representatives of St Edwards Old Boys, one who knew Darren Wilson very well, who were winners of the Lancashire Plate. So another splendid piece of silverware took its place on the table that quickly took on the appearance of Aladdin’s Cave on an evening to remember.