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John 'QC' Davies

The community of St Dogmaels is in shock after the sudden death of John Davies this morning.

John - affectionately known as QC' following his years in the legal profession - was taken ill and died at his village home in the early hours.

He leaves his wife, Esther, two children, Llinos and Rhys, son-in-law Barri and grandson Heulyn, as well as his 100-year-old mother Mrs E Lowri Davies.

Mr Davies was a pillar of the community, heavily involved with village organisations and the local church.

He spent his working life involved with the legal profession, as a clerk to De Ceredigion magistrates and later clerk to the Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire benches.

Gerwyn Morgan, who retired from the bench earlier this year, said: "He was a very good lawyer and a very good clerk. He always tempered justice with a sense of humour.

"He served for over 20 years on the Dyfed magistrates court committee and his contributions were invaluable. If there were difficult situations in court or committee John would be able to get things moving, always with a wry smile on his face.

"He is a great loss to the community."

Retired magistrate Gerry Evans also paid tribute to Mr Davies.

"John trained me as a magistrate and was renowned throughout the area.

"He achieved the training of a barrister and the tag QC' stuck. A real one off," said Mr Evans.

Mr Davies was operations manager for Cardigan RNLI for many years. Senior lifeboatman Len Walters said: "John will be sadly missed by all of us at Cardigan lifeboat and his death is a big loss to the whole community."

He was active in many organisations in St Dogmaels and was a founder member of Cwmni Drama and the first chairman of Cymdeithas Llandudoch.

Terwyn Thomas, who worked with him on several organisations said: "I had known John since I moved to the village 25 years ago. This is very sad, a great loss. John was very much a community man and he held St Dogmaels close to his heart."

Canon Dorrien Davies of St Thomas' Church, St Dogmaels, where Mr Davies was the church warden, said: "The loss to St Dogmaels is great indeed, particularly to the church.

"We will be burying a faithful church member and our hearts go out in sympathy to his family."

Community councillor Ian Gollop, who is also life president of Cardigan Rugby Club, said Mr Davies was a keen rugby fan.

"John had an amazing analytical rugby brain and was a keen follower of the club. A sad loss, he will be hugely missed."

Mr Davies was last year elected chairman of governors at Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi.

Headmaster Garry Brame said: "In the short time that I knew John Davies in his role as chair of governors, it was quite clear that he was an extremely capable man who was prepared to generously give of his time to support the school. He was particularly supportive to me personally in my new role as head of Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi; John's presence at any meeting was guaranteed to bring a positve air to proceedings and he will be sorely missed by pupils and staff alike."

And former headmaster Dr Gwynfor Griffiths said: "Mr Davies became a community governor at the school some four years ago, although he had been a parent at the school back in the nineties. He had extensive experience of public life and brought that experience to the governing body. He was never prepared for anyone to speak out against the school's good name, but he was always scrupulously fair when dealing with the school's students and parents. He was always prepared to offer advice without you feeling he was pushing his ideas onto you.

"He supported all aspects of school activities and led meetings as chairman in a warm and welcoming manner, as witnessed in the school's prize evening before Easter. He enjoyed a joke as well as anyone and his mischievous smile will be well remembered."

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Colin Phillips, Hyfrydle, Gwbert Road, Cardigan.

Pay your tributes to John Davies below.

2:41pm Monday 12th May 2008

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