Anthony Michael John Davy, BA
Squadron Leader
(Retired) Tony Davy died suddenly at his home in Goatacre, Wiltshire,
on Sunday 27th June 2004, aged 58.
Tony grew up in Cornwall, a county he loved, and attended school at Plymouth College. In 1967 he joined the Royal Air Force and became a navigator. He loved the Service way of life, in particular the comradeship, and travelled extensively around the world initially with Coastal Command and later with Transport Command. In 1977 Tony was posted to RAF Lyneham and moved to nearby Goatacre shortly thereafter. Being in the Forces he had not envisaged remaining in the area for more than a couple of years but by commuting to the Ministry of Defence in London and later Bracknell Staff College he managed to maintain the home and garden which he loved. Whilst at RAF Lyneham he served on 70, 57(R), 24 and 30 Squadrons and was also the Chief Navigation Instructor for some years. He retired from the RAF three years ago and joined the Joint Staff College at Shrivenham as a tutor.
Tony gained his degree through the Open University and was also presented with the Yorkshire Television trophy as best student in the area covered by their service for that year. This was typical of the man – he never did things in half measures!
Tony had many interests, amongst which was industrial archaeology. He became interested in the restoration of the Wilts & Berks Canal and donated a few bricks for lock walls and became an active member of the local branch. On his return from serving as Detachment Commander Bahrain, in 1995, he was invited onto the Council of Management. The following year he became chairman of the Wilts & Berks Amenity Group, as it was then called. He was assured that this would merely be a ‘figurehead’ position and would not be too time consuming! At the time the project was described as a ‘dream’ but Tony threw himself into it and nine years later the restoration of the canal is becoming a reality. The canal will link with the Kennet & Avon Canal, the Cotswold Canal and the river Thames at Abingdon. As with all other major canal restorations this should boost the local economy and be a source for leisure activities. Far more people use canals, and their towpaths, for walking, cycling and fishing than they do for boating.
Tony was also involved with the Local Parish Plan for Hilmarton. He will be missed at the Lyneham Bridge Club and the Political Supper Club, both of which he attended regularly with his wife, Juanita. He supported the local wildlife and his garden is always alive with birds.
He married Juanita Sayer in 1969; their daughter Lara and son Douglas survive him.
The funeral took place on Tuesday 6th July at Kingsdown Crematorium.
Statement from the Trust
TRAGIC LOSS OF A TIRELESS CAMPAIGNER
HEARTFELT tributes have been paid following the death of a tireless campaigner working towards the restoration of the Wilts & Berks Canal. Tragically this happened just before the announcement that the restoration had been raised to British Waterways 'Priority Two' status. “A fitting tribute to his eight year Chairmanship".
Tony Davy, chairman of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, and vice-chairman of the Canal Partnership, in Wiltshire passed away at his Wiltshire home at the end of June.
He had dedicated his later years to leading the effort to restore the former waterway from the Kennet & Avon Canal near Melksham to the River Thames near Abingdon and the Thames & Severn Canal near Cricklade.
Tony had joined what was then the Wilts & Berks Canal Amenity Group in 1992, progressing on to lead the Calne branch in 1994 before being elected chairman of the charity in 1996.
The 58-year-old retired squadron leader, of Goatacre in Wiltshire, was attracted to the restoration project due to his interest in industrial archaeology.
Thanks to his efforts, the Trust has been transformed from a small and little-known charity to a rapidly growing charity with more than 1,600 members and ten branches.
In the last few years the pace of restoration has started to quicken, with several miles of newly-watered canal, rebuilt bridges and locks and regular donations running into hundreds of thousands of pounds.
His wife Juanita and family and many friends attended a moving funeral service held at Kingsdown Crematorium, where donations were made to the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust.
The Trust's Council of Management added their tributes and condolences to Juanita and his family at a special meeting following the news of Tony's Death. Council all agreed that the best tribute would be to get the project finished as soon as possible. A new Chairman, Ken Oliver, was elected at the meeting. Ken said "The Wilts & Berks Canal was a dream but thanks to Tony and the hard work of all Trust members everybody asks us now when we are going to have the canal open. I will do my best to get the canal built as I am as keen as anyone to take my narrowboat through the beautiful areas of Wiltshire and Oxfordshire "
