The Torpoint Archives and Heritage Centre
Ever wondered why Goad Avenue is so called?
This is why...
Captain Roger Goad. Explosives Officer
GM, BEM
1935 -1975
Roger Goad was born in India, in 1935, whilst his father was stationed there in the army.
However, he soon moved with his family to Clarence Road, Torpoint. He attended Torpoint Infants' School and Junior School, before going on to study at Saltash Grammar School.
He joined the Royal Army Ordinance Corps at 17, serving overseas, including Cyprus, where, as a Sergeant, in 1957, he was awarded the British Empire Medal for gallantry for deliberate acts of courage in the disarming of numerous boobytraps and explosives set by terrorists. He became a commissioned officer in 1968 and retired from the Army as a Captain in 1974. He then became an explosives officer with the Metropolitan Police C7 Support Unit.
On the 29th August 1975 at 10pm Roger Goad was on duty and returning to base after dealing with an incident in Slough, when he was diverted to deal with a suspect device in Kensington.
Following a phone call tip off, Police had discovered a suspicious package in the doorway of a shoe shop in Kensington Church Street. A bomb with an anti-handling device had been placed there by the IRA.
Roger attempted to defuse the device, but at 10:10pm, the bomb exploded killing him instantly.
He was just 40 years old, married and had 2 children.
In commemoration of his acts of
bravery and ultimate sacrifice;
Torpoint residents specifically requested the main avenue on the then new estate being built, to be named
GOAD AVENUE
In 2018 the Metropolitan Police unveiled a memorial to Roger Goad at the site of the explosion.
In September 2019, Captain Goads brother, Colin, now a Chelsea pensioner, attended the unveiling of Torpoint's new war memorial
More information can be found here:
Captain Roger Philip Goad GC. BEM - The Police Memorial Trust
A special thank you to DAISY HAMLYN, a student at Torpoint Community College, who helped gather this information as part of her work experience week with us at the TAHC.