Roy Davis passed away suddenly, unexpectedly and peacefully on November 30, 2017, in the company of close friends, at the Sussex County Hospital, having suffered a stroke at the age of 82.
He maintained many friendships throughout life, and was a dear friend to many in the LGBT+ communities of Brighton and Hove. Having lived here for over 45 years, he is hugely missed, as is the keen involvement and enthusiasm he gave so happily to his many interests, always with a sense of fun, a generous heart and a twinkle in his eye.
Living more recently in Patching Lodge Retirement Apartments, Roy came to Sussex from his home town of Bristol during the 1960s.
A naturally friendly, sociable and gregarious man he successfully applied these personal qualities to his career and business ventures.
He and his late partner Richard (“my Richard” as Roy always called him), owned and ran Rowland Guest House, St Georges Terrace, Kemptown, and both were renowned for their love of throwing big parties and fancy dress!
Richard died in 1993 aged 54 and Roy always kept his photo by the bed.
After Richard died, Roy continued his generous socialising, only scaling down when he moved to Patching Lodge eight years ago. However, never being one to think on a small-scale, for his 80th birthday he invited 150 guests to the Royal Albion Hotel to help him celebrate this milestone!
Always public-spirited, Roy was a keen and valued member of both Brighton Gems and Older and Out, and participated in many charities, in the past having been Vice President of Brighton Cares, an early HIV/AIDS charity and also being involved in the creating of the AIDS Memorial commemorative statue in New Steine Gardens, Brighton.
A very outgoing and forward-looking man, more recently he was determined to master the use of his smart phone, and was currently taking lessons with some success, since he saw it as a new way of keeping in touch with his many friends.
Roy spent what proved to be his last day, in a way that was typical of the man, and perhaps sums him up very well. He joined his swimming group pals for lunch, (also, as usual, making eyes at the waiter), and from where he sent out drinks party invitations to all the group members via his smart phone. Later that evening he was out to dinner with friends.
When back at home he was taken ill with what proved to be a fatal stroke.
Greatly missed by his friends, he will live on in the hearts of so many of us.
Roy’s funeral was at Woodvale Crematorium Brighton, on January 8, 2018, was very well attended, and proved to be an uplifting celebration of his life.
By Paul Baddeley
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