ROY ADAMS 1926–2008
Sadly passed away on 4 June 2008
Roy played billiards for Aerostructures A team at Hamble along with sons Paul, Mike and Mark. His proudest moment came when he helped the team to win the prestigious Southampton Billiard League title and the Usher Team Billiard Cup. He looked after Aerostructure’s two snooker tables and kept them in beautiful condition. You would often see him practising there and at Bitterne British Legion Club where he was also a member.
He loved to play and watch the best players. He would travel to Bath to watch the World Professional Billiards Championship and also play in the Wincanton Open Billiard Tournament. He loved to see players trying their hardest no matter what their skill level and appreciated players working at their game.
Normally it’s the father teaching the son but Paul coached Roy at the grand old age of 70 and helped him win numerous club titles. He also played snooker for The Petersfield Bowling and Snooker Club. He won the club’s Billiard Singles Trophy twice. He was getting ever better at 80 years of age and was looking forward to the 2008 season.
Roy was also a great table tennis player. He played for Alpha, one of the top teams in Southampton. Roy and Mike played in a Southampton League Championship winning team. They went unbeaten throughout a season, winning all 20 matches, unheard of in the league.
But above all Roy was a wonderful footballer. He played semi-professionally in and around London and could have been a full professional, practising with England internationals at lunchtime when he worked at Follands, Hamble during the war. He played in an amateur side that got to within two games of winning the FA Amateur Cup which would have been played at Highbury, Arsenal’s old ground. He achieved a scholarship to King Edward VI school in his younger days and played and coached Old Edwardians football side well into his 50s!
He set great store by learning the skills required, and never trusted in luck. He would never say ‘good luck’ to me before a match. It was always ‘good skill’!
Paul says “ We are all very proud of my dad. He helped us immensely throughout our lives and is an inspiration to us all”.
He will be sadly missed for his wonderful enthusiasm, fairness and appreciation of sport in general but we will continue to play with him in our thoughts every time we break off!
(from the pen of Paul Adams after the passing of his father on 4th June 2008)