July 25, 1939 – August 28, 2018
A NAUGHTY wink and a cheeky smile; Michael Davis also had presence. A particularly brooding presence, centre stage, backlit and on the top rostrum, dressed as Batman in the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus (BGMC) Superhero Show. So far, so Bruce Wayne.
When it came to the choreography, Michael would have been the first to admit that, things became a little more Foggy from Last of the Summer Wine. His gentle humour surfaced in a beautifully observed cameo in another BGMC production, Manneka Rice’s Quest for the Ultimate Gay Song. And his comic timing was enjoyed by all sections of the Chorus in his witty exchanges with his beloved Mr Yarrow, the Chorus’ Artistic Director.
Michael served in the army and also in the police force. Although you shouldn’t judge him by his uniform, unless, perhaps, it was his British Airways’ flight attendant’s one. There was far more to Michael than the dapper gentlemen, with the flawless technique for a perfect Windsor knot, whose sparkling eyes met yours: motorcycling, the open road, top-down motoring, motorcycle leathers, speed, hedonistic journeying, a passion for Pink Floyd, and TJ, his pussy.
That’s before we even mention his time as butler to Ridley Scott. Oh, and introducing Brighton to a proper cup of coffee by way of his Marmalade Café outlet in George Street, Hove Actually.
From the way that Michael lived, openly, honestly, quietly, courageously, kindly, it was difficult to imagine that for the first three decades of his life the landscape for the LGBT+ communities was far more unsympathetic than the one that presents itself today. He often reflected very fondly on his many and varied life experiences, and never for one moment took for granted, what he viewed as the charmed extra years that medical advances had gifted him.
Tuesday evenings with the Chorus bought him great pleasure, as did attending Lunch Positive, Brighton Gems, the Brighton Bhuddist Centre and trips to the cinema. He enjoyed voluntary work at Brighton’s Royal Pavilion and St Bart’s Church. He talked very affectionately of time spent with his brother Geoff and his family, in the Surrey countryside. Unsurprisingly Michael had many friends to whom he could turn when the technological wonders of the modern world defeated him.
One concern that Michael often voiced was that as an older person, and specifically as an older gay man, he sometimes felt invisible to others. When remembering the charming, kind and sparkling presence of our dear friend Michael, he might like that we reflect on that.
Michael’s funeral will take place at 12.30 on Saturday, September 15 at the Downs Crematorium Bear Road, Brighton. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Michael requested no flowers and asked for donations to be sent to Lunch Positive the weekly HIV Lunch Club and Brighton PDSA Pet Hospital.
Obituary written by Peter Allinson and Andrew Farr.
You must be logged in to post a comment.