MBE for sporty sergeant
Date published: 16 June 2009
Raymond Burke (centre) pictured with Army colleagues after receiving his MBE
An Army staff sergeant from Oldham has received an MBE — awarded in the New Year’s Honours List —for services to sport.
Raymond Burke, originally from Bardsley, is a top squash player and played for the over-40s national side at international championships in Nottingham recently.
He has also played for the Army and combined services’ sides since he took it up as his major sport 14 years ago.
Raymond (45), now stationed at Leconfield near Hull, is a gunner but his main responsibility is Army discipline and he is attached to the Royal Horse Artillery, where he looks after the guard house.
He joined the Army 28 years ago, and his career has taken him to Germany, Bosnia, Ireland, Australia, Hong Kong and Canada.
Raymond, whose wife Tracy is from Lees, said: “I used to play football and rugby, but I had a very bad head injury playing football, and broke my jaw and lost my hearing in my right ear.
“So my wife said I wasn’t playing again, and I got serious about squash 14 years ago.”
Raymond, who went to Hathershaw Primary and Fitton Hill Secondary schools, has two sons following in their father’s footsteps — James (20) and Adam (18) are also in the Royal Horse Artillery.
