Charity fundraiser John Davies, known as Stratford's Mr Lifeboatman, has died aged 89
JOHN Davies, who was given the title of Stratford’s Mr Lifeboatman, has died aged 89.
Born in Birmingham in 1933, John had problems with his legs and spent time in hospital and had to wear callipers.
His family were bombed out during the Second World War and John was evacuated to Weston-super-Mare to stay with relatives. It was there that he learnt about the RNLI – he was taken many times to see the lifeboat – and a passion was ignited.
After school, John served in the RAF and spent time based at RAF Butterworth in Penang, Malaysia, in the 1950s.
He was an extremely keen sportsman, playing rugby, judo and badminton and taking part in cross-country running, snorkelling and climbing.
It was while walking with Birmingham Ramblers that he met Cathy – his future wife – when she slipped down a hill, bringing him down with her. It was the start of a relationship that lasted for 52 years.
John travelled extensively around the former Yugoslavia, climbing mountains, sailing down the Adriatic coast and staying on various islands so he could swim in the beautiful sea.
Both John and Cathy joined a friendship society, based at Birmingham University, which linked with physics graduates from Belgrade University.
Each year a concert, organised by Priscilla Starkey of Shelley Road, Stratford, would be held at the Shakespeare Institute when a young Yugoslav musician would be brought over to play. John was involved with the organisation of those events.
Cathy and John were frequent visitors to Stratford to watch cricket at Swans Nest Lane and it was not long before John became a social member and then a vice-president by subscription.
When they had the opportunity in 1989, they moved to Stratford and John continued to support the cricket club, he particularly wanted the junior teams to thrive.
His work with the RNLI had started before he moved to Stratford, but John became involved in the town’s group – he was its treasurer for 25 years – and was known for growing vegetables and selling them in Rother Street market in aid of the charity.
In 2015, John was awarded the RNLI Gold Badge in recognition of his support of the lifeboat service.
Until shortly before his death he was still counting RNLI box money. He would do most of the banking, and was affectionately known by a Lloyds Bank cashier as Mr Lifeboatman.
He also helped at the Midlands Charities Association Christmas card shop and he and Cathy took over the organisation of it when Philip Marr died in 2007.
John was also a member of the domino team at the Bell Inn, Shottery (which became the British Legion Team), and continued playing until a few years ago.
He was a fountain of general knowledge, the younger members of his extended family always wanted him in their team when playing Trivial Pursuit.
John was a quiet, unassuming man who did not crave a fast car or a bigger house, his ambitions were always to grow a bigger pumpkin or a longer parsnip, or to climb a higher mountain.
He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.
His funeral will be at Oakley Wood Crematorium on 20th April at 2pm.
