Veteran Navy man inspires cricketing youngsters

by Emdad Rahman

Navy veteran Roy Anderson visited Scintilla Eastbury Cricket Academy to give an inspiring speech to the Academy and senior members of Scintilla Cricket Club. `The visit also included a Q&A with Academy Members. Starry eyed youngsters and adults enjoyed two hours of interesting and fun discussion. Roy, who now lives in South Hayling, Portsmouth was kept busy with a whole host of questions about his naval career and interesting tales about his experiences at at sea.

“Roy Anderson was very kind to give up his time for our team,” said Scintilla Eastbury Academy member Jack Briggs. “It was an honour to hear Roy speak about his adventures at sea. It was really inspiring.” Jack’s team mate extended a second invitation: “I hope Roy Anderson visits us again very soon and maybe then we can also play cricket and have a football kick about too,” added Rokhan Khan.

Scintilla Eastbury Academy coach Ayaz Karim said, “Thank you to Roy Anderson for giving up his valuable time. Scintilla Cricket Club aims to not only provide high class coaching, but high class life mentoring too. We hope that Roy enjoyed meeting us and we are grateful to have had him visit us. The young members have benefitted a lot from his talk and I have received excellent feedback from them.”

Roy Anderson was born in Barking & Dagenham and raised on the Gascoigne Estate in Thames View. He spent over ten years in the Royal Navy, including assignments in the Falklands and the Gulf. He currently works as a performance advisor in local government.