Francis Roads

British Go Journal No. 14. June 1971. Page 6a.

At this years AGM in Leeds Francis Roads was elected as the new President of the Association, and it might be interesting to members who have not met him at Congresses to know a little of his background.

He is 27, married, with a young son. Like so many Go players he started his University course as a science student, but changed while at Oxford to music. His musical activities now extend beyond his job - teaching music in a junior school - to amateur singing and even composing. His wife is also a musician.

He learnt Go from Dr. Good's famous article in the New Scientist in 1965, and joined the London Go Club on leaving Oxford that year. In 1968 he joined the BGA committee, and shortly afterwards founded the Enfield Go Club, which met in his flat. But, thanks to his energy and skill as a teacher and propagandist, the club grew and was soon able to move into a room as Enfield Arts Centre and to get a grant on the rates [ local taxes ] to buy 6 Go sets. With his recent move to Woodford, the club has also moved there, and is once again meeting in his (somewhat larger) house.

At the Leeds Congress he was promoted to 2 kyu.