Mike Davies

It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of Mike Davies at the age of 84. A great stalwart of the two London Welsh choirs to which he belonged, Mike joined the Gwalia Male Choir in 1998, and became a key and very supportive member of the bass section. Hewas a founding member of the London Welsh Rugby Club Choir in 2004, a year later travelling with the choir to New Zealand in support of the British and Irish Lions.Originally from the Rhondda, Mike’s family moved to London when he was a boy, but he never lost his accent. He worked in the construction industry in Dulwich and then, after National Service, went on to teach handicrafts in Bromley and then at the Brixton School of Building, (now South Bank University). Despite his enormous hands, Mike produced delicate pieces of woodwork. With his goatee beard, it was ‘not unusual’ for people to mistake him for Tom Jones!

Before a large congregation at Mike’s funeral service at St Andrew’s Church, Bromley, the combined choirs sang ‘Eli Jenkins’ Prayer’ and ‘Calon Lan’ and led the assembled family and friends in ‘Cwm Rhondda’. A particularly emotional moment in the service was when Mike’s granddaughter, Poppy, gave a beautiful and moving piano rendition of ‘Clair de Lune’. On the way to the superb reception laid on by the family at a nearby hotel, the choir called in at Mike’s favourite pub, the ‘Prince Frederick’, to sing a couple of songs in his memory. It was testament to the affectionate regard in which Mike was held that ex-members of the choirs travelled from as far as Cornwall, Devon and Gloucestershire to attend the funeral. It was a pleasure and a privilege to have known Mike. He was a dear friend and will be very sadly missed.

Our sincere condolences have been extended to Mike’s wife, Margaret, and the family.

God Bless him.