Remembering John Davies — A Life Beautifully Lived

Forty-three years. Not enough, not nearly enough, but every single one of them a gift. John, you made me laugh every day. You held my hand through everything. The world is quieter without you and I miss you in every corner of every room. I am so proud to have been yours.

Dad was the kind of man who remembered every little thing that mattered to you and forgot everything that didn't. He could tell you every one of our teachers' names but couldn't remember where he put his keys once in forty years. We loved him for exactly that. We miss him enormously.

John and I met at seventeen and talked every week until the end. He was the most genuinely decent person I have ever known. No pretence, no agenda — just warmth and honesty and that laugh. I feel very lucky to have had him in my life for as long as I did.

Mr Davies told us on our last day of school that we were capable of far more than we believed. Most of us have spent the last thirty years trying to prove him right. He changed the direction of so many lives simply by believing in us. We will never forget him.