A true Blackheath villager, he lived his entire life at Heathview Cottages except during World War II when he fought for King and Country in North Africa, surviving no fewer than 3 separate torpedo attacks on the troop ships that carried him there and back.

Francis started playing cricket for Blackheath as a boy (you can see him as an 18 year old in the 1932 team photo that hangs beside the bar) and continued for almost 50 years, taking 670 wickets including 4 hat tricks with his right arm fast medium. In 1966 he clean bowled Ken Barrington who played for Eastwick Park at Blackheath.

In 1948 he became club groundsman and served in that capacity for almost another 50 years. It's largely due to his efforts, along with John Macdonald, that our square has the enviable reputation that it enjoys today.

Even if you weren't personally acquainted with Francis you will undoubtedly have seen him. In his final years he spent most weekend afternoons on his favourite seat in the front garden at Cobbins, watching us all with a critical eye or perhaps taking a well-earned forty winks after a spell of gardening, which was his other passion.

With him we lose a great link to our past and we shall not see his like again.