Most Excellent! Ross King shares his pride at being awarded his MBE

IN the words of Groucho Marx, I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.

But that was until last week when I got a phonecall telling me I was being made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

I hadn’t heard of it either – it took me a while to work out it was an MBE.

It’s one of the few times I’ve been lost for words which – given how I can usually talk for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games – shows how gobsmacked I was.

I’m honoured, surprised, humbled… and thankful to Her Majesty, The Queen for this award, which was given for services to broadcasting, the arts and charity.

I do wish my Mum and Dad were still here to see this.

I accept it on behalf of them, and for all the incredible charity work that they did through the years.

My sis Elaine will be joining me at the Palace as a wee thank you from me for not only looking after Mum and Dad so well, but for putting up with me too!

Gary Barlow sent his congratulations to our man Ross

This award has helped me appreciate how lucky I am to have been in a business for such a long time that enables me to give back in many different ways.

It’s amazing to think that 40 years ago I started at the Hospital Broadcasting Service in Glasgow as a 16-year-old.

Hospital Radio is a charity organisation, and I loved doing it – even when the anaesthesiologists got in touch to thank me for sending the patients to sleep with my patter.

What’s also lovely for me is that one of the charities I’m an ambassador for is The Kiltwalk and the CEO of the wonderful organisation is the man who gave me my first job in professional radio, as the 16-year-old at Radio Clyde, Paul Cooney.

Thank you Pabs, you created one MBE…Massive Big Ego!

Gary Barlow, Lorraine, Piers Morgan, Susanna Reid, Ben Shephard, Allan Stewart, Cheryl Baker, Jo Frost, and a host of other pals and family got in touch to say congrats – including the funniest and rudest one ever from Gerard Butler that will hopefully (for his sake!) never see the light of the day.

However the ones that meant the most were from people, many that I’ve never met, who took the time to contact me on social media. I was completely overwhelmed and really want to thank you all.