Dickie Davies
Encyclopedia
Richard "Dickie" Davies (born 30 April 1933, Wallasey
, Merseyside
) is a British television presenter, best known for presenting World of Sport
from 1968 until 1985.
Davies attended grammar school, did National Service
in the RAF
and was a purser
on the Queen Mary
and Queen Elizabeth
ocean liner
s. His first job in broadcasting was as an announcer for Southern Television
. In the early stages of his career Davis was known by his birth name, Richard Davies, but changed to Dickie Davies at the suggestion of his ITV Sport colleague Jimmy Hill
. Davies became known for the white quiff of hair on his forehead (see Poliosis
), and this became his trademark appearance, and was also much loved by TV comedy impressionists during his years on World of Sport
.
After World of Sport ended in 1985, Davis stayed with ITV, presenting boxing
and snooker
, as well as playing a part in their coverage of the 1988 Seoul Olympics. He left ITV Sport in 1989.
After leaving ITV, Davis joined the original incarnation of Eurosport
, which was then owned by Sky and the EBU. He fronted their innovative snooker coverage, including the one-off 1991 Mita World Masters. He presented sports bulletins from his home for Classic FM
in its early days.
In the early 1990s, Davis suffered a stroke, which forced him to give up his work on Classic FM, but eventually made a good recovery, although it was several years before his speech fully returned to normal. In the mid 1990s he fronted Dickie Davies' Sporting Heroes and Bobby Charlton's Football Scrapbook for British Sky Broadcasting
.
In 2005 he presented a one-off special 50 Years of World of Sport for ITV, as part of the ITV 50 celebrations. He also narrated two DVDs looking back on the years of British wrestling coverage on ITV, a sport he admits he hated.
He is a board member of a frozen food company, and occasionally contributes to ESPN Classic
.
Dickie is also the president of Sandford Springs Golf Club
, which is owned by Leaderboard Golf
Reference is made to Davies in the Half Man Half Biscuit
song, "Dickie Davies Eyes".
Wallasey
Wallasey is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, in Merseyside, England, on the mouth of the River Mersey, at the northeastern corner of the Wirral Peninsula...
, Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
) is a British television presenter, best known for presenting World of Sport
World of Sport (UK TV series)
World of Sport was a British television sport anthology programme which ran on ITV between 2 January 1965 to 28 September 1985 in response to competition from BBC's Grandstand...
from 1968 until 1985.
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
in the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
and was a purser
Purser
The purser joined the warrant officer ranks of the Royal Navy in the early fourteenth century and existed as a Naval rank until 1852. The development of the warrant officer system began in 1040 when five English ports began furnishing warships to King Edward the Confessor in exchange for certain...
on the Queen Mary
Queen Mary (ship)
The following ships are named Queen Mary:* HMS Queen Mary, a battlecruiser of the Royal Navy launched in 1912 and sunk at the Battle of Jutland in 1916...
and Queen Elizabeth
RMS Queen Elizabeth
RMS Queen Elizabeth was an ocean liner operated by the Cunard Line. Plying with her running mate Queen Mary as a luxury liner between Southampton, UK and New York City, USA via Cherbourg, France, she was also contracted for over twenty years to carry the Royal Mail as the second half of the two...
ocean liner
Ocean liner
An ocean liner is a ship designed to transport people from one seaport to another along regular long-distance maritime routes according to a schedule. Liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes .Cargo vessels running to a schedule are sometimes referred to as...
s. His first job in broadcasting was as an announcer for Southern Television
Southern Television
Southern Television was the first ITV broadcasting licence holder for the south and south-east of England from 30 August 1958 until the night of 31 December 1981. The company was launched as Southern Television Limited and the title Southern Television was consistently used on-air throughout its life...
. In the early stages of his career Davis was known by his birth name, Richard Davies, but changed to Dickie Davies at the suggestion of his ITV Sport colleague Jimmy Hill
Jimmy Hill
James William Thomas "Jimmy" Hill OBE is an English association football personality. His career has taken in virtually every role in football, including player, union leader, coach, manager, director, chairman, television executive, presenter, analyst and match official.-Early life:Hill was born...
. Davies became known for the white quiff of hair on his forehead (see Poliosis
Poliosis
Poliosis is the decrease or absence of melanin in head hair, eyebrows, or eyelashes. It can give rise to a "Mallen Streak" that can be hereditary....
), and this became his trademark appearance, and was also much loved by TV comedy impressionists during his years on World of Sport
World of Sport (UK TV series)
World of Sport was a British television sport anthology programme which ran on ITV between 2 January 1965 to 28 September 1985 in response to competition from BBC's Grandstand...
.
After World of Sport ended in 1985, Davis stayed with ITV, presenting boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
and snooker
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
, as well as playing a part in their coverage of the 1988 Seoul Olympics. He left ITV Sport in 1989.
After leaving ITV, Davis joined the original incarnation of Eurosport
Eurosport
Eurosport is a pan-European television sport network operated by French broadcaster TF1 Group. The network of channels are available in 59 countries, in 20 different languages providing viewers with European and international sporting events...
, which was then owned by Sky and the EBU. He fronted their innovative snooker coverage, including the one-off 1991 Mita World Masters. He presented sports bulletins from his home for Classic FM
Classic FM (UK)
Classic FM, one of the United Kingdom's three Independent National Radio stations, broadcasts classical music in a popular and accessible style.-Overview:...
in its early days.
In the early 1990s, Davis suffered a stroke, which forced him to give up his work on Classic FM, but eventually made a good recovery, although it was several years before his speech fully returned to normal. In the mid 1990s he fronted Dickie Davies' Sporting Heroes and Bobby Charlton's Football Scrapbook for British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
.
In 2005 he presented a one-off special 50 Years of World of Sport for ITV, as part of the ITV 50 celebrations. He also narrated two DVDs looking back on the years of British wrestling coverage on ITV, a sport he admits he hated.
He is a board member of a frozen food company, and occasionally contributes to ESPN Classic
ESPN Classic
ESPN Classic is a sports channel that features reruns of famous sporting events, sports documentaries, and sports themed movies. Such programs includes biographies of famous sports figures or a rerun of a famous World Series or Super Bowl, often with added commentary on the event...
.
Dickie is also the president of Sandford Springs Golf Club
Sandford Springs Golf Club
Sandford Springs is a private golf club in Kingsclere, Hampshire in England.It is owned by Leaderboard Golf along with 4 other golfing venues in the South East including The Oxfordshire Golf Club near Oxford, Dale Hill Hotel and Golf Club in Wadhurst, East Sussex, Chart Hills Golf Club near Ashford...
, which is owned by Leaderboard Golf
Leaderboard Golf Ltd
Leaderboard Golf Ltd is a company that owns four renowned Golf Clubs in the South East including The Oxfordshire Golf Club near Oxford, Sandford Springs Golf Club near Basingstoke and Newbury, Dale Hill Hotel and Golf Club near Tonbridge and Royal Tunbridge Wells and Chart Hills Golf Club near...
Reference is made to Davies in the Half Man Half Biscuit
Half Man Half Biscuit
Half Man Half Biscuit, often "HMHB", are an English rock band from Birkenhead, Merseyside, active since the mid-1980s, known for satirical, sardonic, and sometimes surreal songs. The group comprises Nigel Blackwell , Neil Crossley , Ken Hancock , and Carl Henry...
song, "Dickie Davies Eyes".