AFTER 35 years as secretary and treasurer of the Moore and Smalley Palace Shield, Arthur Rose is retiring at the league's annual general meeting on December 1.

Arthur has been made a life vice-president, an honour given to those who have completed 50 years service as player and official.

He was part of one of the great Palace Shield teams. In the late 1940s, throughout the 1950s and the early 1960s he played in a Bradshaws and Loxhams (now Dutton Forshaw) team that won the league seven times in 15 seasons.

He was joined in those teams by his brothers, Harold and Eddie.

Arthur played a leading role in the formation of the junior section in 1972.

At that time there were ten teams at U17 level, but 25 years later there are 63 teams from 19 clubs playing at U17, U15, U13 and U11 levels.

In 1986 Arthus received two awards - the Torch Trophy from the Duke of Gloucester in London for services to cricket in the North West; and the Lancashire Evening Post and Rothmans Service to Sport award.

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