Lawrence Davis

I first met Lawrence in 1963 when he interviewed ( and selected) me to be his assistant at Gloucester RDC. Nancy, my wife, already knew him as she had worked there some years earlier. From the start we got on very well. I was a green 25 year old and Lawrence was the experienced expert! I was keen to learn and I could not have had a better teacher. He was one of those rare people who had a big hunger for knowledge together with the ability to store what he learnt and accurately recall it at will. He became an encyclopaedia of all rules, regulations and laws of everything to do with building, public health and local government. His abilities were recognised and valued nationally and by other European countries. Only special people reach those levels. As a result of working together we were sometimes sent to meetings and on courses etc. and there was always a social side to those events. Over those years we certainly had some fun! We were all sad when Lawrence left the RDC, but we never completely lost touch. It was a very good move for him professionally, and it did me no harm as I took over his job! I am grateful for having known Lawrence, for the things he taught me and for his friendship. He will be remembered.

— Mike Brice

Mr Davis (as we always called him!) welcomed my sister and I into his home and allowed us to natter away to his lovely wife for many, many Thursday evenings (over 10 years and still counting).

My favourite memory of Mr Davis was soon after a brand new stair lift had been fitted at Lawbarba and Mr Davis gave us some very important lessons on how to use it!

I will always remember Mr Davis for being one of the most Knowledgeable people I know, especially about the area of Tibberton and Taynton. A true gentleman

Nell Heron Xxx

— Nell, Taynton Court Farm

Mr Davis, what can I say?!! The kindest, most knowledgeable man I ever had the pleasure to meet! Mr Davis taught me (in FULL detail) the history of Tibberton and Taynton over the 13 years I visited his house every Thursday- The village he truly loved! Mr Davis would always have a sweetie bowl next to his arm chair and every Thursday would let me take one ... and only one! Mr Davis was the weather man for my family and could predict the weather with great ease and was never wrong! His love for Mrs Davis was a thing to behold and brought happiness to me and my sister. Mr Davis was a true gentleman

Photo taken the day before I was leaving for university and knew I wouldn’t be able to, for the first time in 12 years, be able to see Mr and Mrs Davis every Thursday

— Tilly Heron

A very lovely memory is of the time we stopped by with Zoë on the return from a festival in Wales. It happened to be the day of my birthday and Lawrence had made the lunch as you had been feeling poorly Barbara. We had pizza served with a lovely selection of home-grown vegetables. The beans were the best I’ve tasted and it’s our gardening goal to try to grow the same ones. It was one of the most memorable birthday lunches, not least because there were two cakes! Your garden is always such a joy to visit and we can’t quite believe how we’ve managed to get away with doing no work in it so far. Our memories are of cream teas in the garden and chatting with Lawrence about our respective experience in local government. Such a lovely, warm, friendly man with a great commitment to his local community and deep sense of place. His love of poetry, knowledge of plants and his skills in ‘tealing up wood’ will live on through Zoë who we rely on for advice and guidance in most things.

— Bridget & Brian, Lewisham

When I first met Lar at Tibberton, he frightened the life out of me, he knew everything and I hardly knew anything, I grew to love him and Barb and can honestly say they are the nicest family I’ve ever known, they welcome everybody and make you feel welcome. I always thought it was lovely how he would cuddle up to you on the sofa and it was then that I thought, he’s such a softy at heart. Loved spending time at Lawbara and I’ll never forget how lovely you and your family were to me. RIP Lar xxx Hil xx

— Hilary, Southampton

Tibberton always felt like a home to me and Law was such an important person for me that I felt like I was having a second family. I will miss our great discussion we always had. Law was a living dictionary, he knew everything what was going on in this world. I loved his commands to do the garden in a proper way. Marleen will never forget when she cut of the cable of Law’s latest most important tool in the garden – the robot lawnmower – he was sooooo proud that he did not have to mow the lawn by himself anymore. He was sometimes crumbly and stubborn nevertheless did he have such a big heart and would give you everything if you needed anything. He was such an intellectual, educated and kind person. We will miss him and I particular will miss him as a part of my second family.

— Monika Staab, Germany

Lawrence is one of only a handful of people who has been in the village all the time we have lived here (going back to 1943 for Don). We have valued his many contributions to village life. Besides his support for Tibberton Church he was also a regular member of the congregation in Taynton where his father was organist for 50 years and his mother sang in the choir.

— Don and Monica Sherratt

Lawrence Davis.

On the 60th anniversary of the Flower Show I interviewed Lawrence for The Citizen, and he told me how it was resurrected quickly after the end of the Second World War.

The show was on a Thursday then (half day closing in Gloucester) at Tibberton Court, and his and many others’ efforts have made it a cherished annual fixture ever since.

He told me he won the darts competition in 1945 - and a piglet as first prize. He took it home, fattened it up and sold it on ‘for a handsome profit’!

RIP Lawrence.

— Ben Falconer, Nailsworth

90 years in Limericks!

— Adam

This picture was taken when Lawrence got his MBE in 1987

— Andy Chapman

Last picture I took of Lawrence with Val and Barbara in the sun at Easter supervising me building a new planting bed in his inimitable style.

— Adam Thomas, Lawbara

With the Tibberton book.

— Reuben Thomas-Davis, London