SIR – I am calling upon Stuart Cummings to hand back his MBE.

Mr Cummings has been a fine referee for many years and a genuine ambassador for Rugby League. But Rugby League is a sport where you achieve by merit, and merit alone. Skill, bravery and determination are pre-requisites for gaining accolades at the top of the game.

It is therefore totally inappropriate that the Queen, someone who inherited her position and has lived off taxpayer handouts all her life, be dishing out awards of this nature.

In short, she is simply not worthy. I look forward to the day when a leading RL figure listens to their conscience and rejects an award if it is to be presented by the monarch.

With a bit of luck we won’t have to wait for King Charles for that to happen.

Sam Gardner, Coniston Grove, Baildon