Frank Watson was the Co-Pilot of the Guyana Airways Twin Otter 8R-GCP that crashed in the Upper Mazaruni on the December 3,1973.
Frank Watson, Paul DaSilva, Colin Moore and Lloyd Marshall were the second batch of Guyanese Students to enroll at the Embry RiddleAeronautical University in July 1970 for the Professional Pilot Training Programme.
Frankie and I (Lloyd) had the same instructor, Chris Horstman, throughout the programme. We soloed on the same day, (August 26, 1970) we completed the programme on the same day and we both joined Guyana Airways in April 1971.
Frankie, a Founder/Member and first President of the Pele Club was a dedicated football enthusiast. During his time at Embry Riddle, he was a valued member of the School’s Soccer Team and was selected for several tours within the State of Florida. His two brothers Clyde (Oiler) and Colin were also players for Pele.
Oiler (so nicknamed because of the smooth action with which he greased the ball into the goal) paved the way for young Guyanese footballers when he was awarded the first football scholarship to study at Clemson University in the U.S.A.
I salute the Pele Alumni for organizing the Frank Watson Senior and Junior Football Tournament and I applaud Dr. Colin Watson for co-sponsoring the event in Remembrance of the Club’s First President. This initiative is not only helpful to football in Guyana but also gives some measure of recognition and honour to my late friend and colleague, Frankie.