Obituary - Dr David Mervyn Davies

Dr David Mervyn Davies MA MB MRCP FFARCS FANZCA(Hon)

1929-2023

Dai Davies was Captain of rugby at medical school in Cambridge and St George’s Hospital, qualifying in 1953. He did national service as medical officer to a RAF desert rescue parachute team in Egypt. He worked as a Senior Lecturer/Consultant Anaesthetist at Hammersmith Hospital and St George’s Hospital, London.

His expertise as a tutor and lecturer led to an invitation to be Burnell-Jose visiting professor in Adelaide, Australia.

In 1960, he was anaesthetist to a British Council Surgical team which visited Iran, Iraq, Jordan and Cyprus.

He examined in the primary and final parts of the FFARCS for 13 years and was Bernard Johnson Advisor at the Faculty of Anaesthetists.

He published on respiratory failure, coronary artery anaesthesia, dyskinesias, extradural analgesia, pulmonary hypoxic responses, adrenal insufficiency and the hyperventilation syndrome.

In retirement he continued to pursue with enthusiasm what he called dilettantism, studying English literature at London University, Latin, music and geology as he said ‘to fill the gaps’. He died from bronchopneumonia on 24th October 2023.

Predeceased by a son, he leaves a wife, Angela and three children, two of whom are Consultants, and six grandchildren.

Dr Robert Davies