[5] Roy was born and raised in Maidenhead, Berkshire,[6] He was educated at University College, Cardiff, gaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in archaeology whilst spending vacations on digs mainly at the Roman town of Usk in south Wales.
After obtaining his degree, he worked as a field archaeologist in Milton Keynes, and later at a Roman villa site at Beddington near Croydon with Lesley.
After graduating she worked as an assistant archaeologist on excavations in Milton Keynes before meeting Roy and moving to South London.
[7] A review in Navy News stated that "Roy and Lesley Adkins possess that rare knack among historians: merging the academic with the narrative and providing a riveting read which also casts light where it is dark.
"[9] Trafalgar: The Biography of a Battle made an appearance at Christmas in the comedy programme Peep Show (series 7 episode 5), when Mark (played by David Mitchell) receives a copy of the book as a present from his flatmate Jeremy (played by Robert Webb).