Brian Davies

Stephanie Smith with Jinty Rorke, Brian Davies and Dave Page at the Society's Garden Party
Photograph courtesy of Fiona Kean

It was with great sadness that members of the Tauranga Historical Society learnt of the sudden death of our friend and member Brian Davies. Brian was born in Wellington and attended Scots College and Victoria University there. He met his late wife Mary when they were both taking the post graduate qualifications to become secondary school teachers. Brian concluded his career as Deputy Principal of Fielding Agricultural High School before he and Mary retired to Tauranga.

Brian taught History and he continued his interest through local history and genealogy.  He joined the Tauranga Genealogy branch not long after moving here and his history of the Davies family gained third prize in the New Zealand Society of Genealogists’ annual award for published family histories. Brian served a term as Convenor of the Tauranga branch.

It was with The Elms that he took a very active role in training guides, producing a guides’ training video, and acting as a guide himself. Brian enjoyed the opportunities to dress up as the Reverend Brown, top hat and all.

His active contribution to the Tauranga Historical Society was as a committee member in charge of publicity, a position he did well. As a couple Brian and Mary had wide interests and he kept up these interests after her death. Brian is survived by his two daughters and their families.