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Roy David Edwards spent his last years living at Blakeley Court Farm, Stanton-upon-Hine Heath, near Shawbury. When, after a long illness, he died on Monday, 6 December, 2010, aged 77, he did so having failed to fulfil his life's ambition - that of winning the Grand National.
He had come closest in 1964 when leading the field a merry dance at The Canal Turn on the gutsy Peacetown, eventually fading into third, six lengths behind Team Spirit and Purple Silk.
Born in Lanfechain, Powys, Wales on September 4, 1933, and described by Susan, his wife of fifty years, as a hard-working and conscientious man, Roy Edwards was one of the top three or four jockeys for about ten years.
His greatest win came at the Cheltenham Festival when driving Saucy Kit (below) home in the 1967 Champion Hurdle, just one of over 500 ridden in his career. Another big win came in the 1971 Great Yorkshire Chase aboard Two Springs.
Like so many others, he had started as a small boy working with show ponies before riding in point-to-points. Roy turned professional in 1959.
In 1961, riding Breaker at Woore, Roy came down at the first flight, afterwards laying unconscious in hospital for ten days. Typical of the toughness of jockeys, he was back in the saddle six weeks later.
He suffered another serious fall at Birmingham in 1965. A horse landed on him, treading on his head. His two jaw bones, nose and cheekbone were all broken, and his forehead cracked. With blackened eyes and bruises, he lay in hospital unconscious for two days.
Roy and his wife moved to Hodnet in Shropshire were they had bought a 1,178 acre farm The long-term intention was to turn it into a stud farm: before that they started with milking cows.
Roy's 500th winner was Pitznair at Warwick and, with the three stallions generating good business back at his stud, he called it a day.
Aged 38, he made his last ride a winning one, on Miss Soundly at Uttoxeter, June 1, 1971.
Roy continued to run Blakeley Stud (as it was known) until 2000.
Roy met his future wife at a dance in Oswestry. She gave him two daughters and a son.
His first win, riding under the name of Mr R. D. Edwards, came on 33/1 shot Audition at Leicester on January 5,1957.
Roy's grandson Charlie Huxley became a jumps jockey.
Roy had two brothers, Charles (involved with show jumpers) and Gordon (who found point-to-point success).
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