Wales should honour the great Roy Francis

AS a Welsh man with strong links to Trinidad, the statue of Picton in Cardiff’s City Hall has long remained shameful to me.

I noticed your paper reporting the Sub Sahara Advisory Panel has suggested replacing Picton’s bust with one of Louisa Calderon, the 14-year-old girl he was found guilty of torturing during his governorship of Trinidad.

Although I support, understand and accept and applaud the removal of Picton, and I agree her story should not be buried with Picton’s bust, and we do need to remember, I do not believe a hall of Welsh heroes is the right place for a monument to Louisa Calderon.

I would like to suggest we honour a Welsh person instead and would put forward the name Roy Francis. ‘Squidge Rugbys’ recent YouTube tribute to the man would convince anyone he deserves a statue in the hall of Welsh heroes.

He was born in Brynmawr, brought up in Tiger Bay and went on as a rugby player to score 229 tries in 356 games, but it was as a coach he proved ahead of his time. He introduced ideas about diet, psychology and video analysis, laying down the foundations of modern rugby and sports coaching. He won three national titles and the challenge cup as a coach.

He was the first black professional coach of any sports team in the UK, 30 years before we had black MPs and in a time when it was still lawful to reject a job applicant based on race alone.

Roy Francis broke through so many barriers, changed the way sport is managed and found great success as a player and a coach. He is a great role model for us all in Wales, someone we can be proud this country gave birth to, and with all the qualities of a Welsh hero.

Scott Dewis Grangetown, Cardiff