Justin Davies (1931-2018; BSA Treasurer 1990-1997)
The BSA was saddened to learn of the passing on 1 December of Justin Davies, BSA Treasurer in the 1990s. Lisa French, Director at the time, has contributed this short, personal memoir of him:
“In the early 1990s the BSA was attempting to move from one era to another. Scholars were being forced to learn and adopt new methods of administration. We were all anxious to maximize the input of the new to our specific needs. The Treasurer of the BSA had been for many years a UK banker, very much of the old school, who had found it very hard to comprehend the needs of an archaeologist or the realities of overseas banking. When he retired we sought to find replacements from a wider field. Thus, when Justin Davies was preparing to retire as Head Master of Orley Farm School, I was besought by his wife, an old school friend, to suggest something that would keep him occupied during retirement. I suggested the BSA. Justin read Classics at Cambridge – at King’s like the then Chairman Nicholas Coldstream – was a frustrated musician (a small dog had bitten off the end joint of his little finger thus preventing his cello playing) and an actor – including Philoctetes while still at school and the messenger in the Agamemnon at Cambridge – as well as having been grappling with similar problems with the new technology. But best of all he was charming, an excellent manipulator with plenty of time and interest in visiting Greece. The many visits which he and Priscilla made to Athens culminated in the ‘Science and Archaeology’ weekend – funded by Charles Williams and heavily supported by the Embassy who, through personal connections including a letter in Classical Greek, enticed Sir Geoffrey Howe, then Foreign Secretary, to join us. After two full days we were due to take the visiting scientists to Corinth for the last morning. We awoke to find Athens covered in snow and the National Road closed. While Richard Tomlinson, then Chairman, walked to the Acropolis (but forgot to take a camera), the Upper House went to battle stations. Justin, Priscilla and Heather Tomlinson rescued all the leftovers from the previous night’s party in emergency fridges (the fire escapes) and turned them into meals for the visitors. I spent the day phoning Heathrow to discover what was happening to Athens flights. He was indeed a most charming and adaptable treasurer.” Lisa French (BSA Director 1989-1994)