Roy joined the British army in 1971 and served for 22 years, 12 years with Special Forces, where he was awarded the Military Medal (MM) and Mentioned in Dispatches (MID). While in the army Roy qualified as a Rock Climbing Instructor, Canoe Instructor, Mountain Leader, Expedition Leader, Jungle Leader and Far from Help Medic. In 1976 Roy was a member of the British Army Mt. Everest expedition which put two members on the summit on 16 May...his mother’s birthday. Roy was a member and leader of many military expeditions to Canada, India, Nepal and Tibet. His passion was exploring remote valleys and scaling unclimbed peaks in the Indian Himalaya, including the first ascent of KR1 and KR3. He was elected Fellow of The Royal Geographic Society (FRGS) for his exploration of remote areas of the Indian Himalaya bordering Tibet. Having retired from the army in 1993 Roy founded Pilgrim Expeditions, an adventure company which gave young people the opportunity to develop themselves in the mountains of Canada, India and Nepal.
Now retired Roy is president of Aide Nepal Magnoac, a charity supporting orphans and disabled children in Nepal. Roy still leads treks in Nepal and advises the Makalu Adventure team on operational matters and safety.
If you have concerns, you think Roy may be able to help you with, please feel free to email him: royfrancis1@aol.com
