Mr. F. R. E. Davis, the Secretary of the Company, retired on November 30 after 45 years’ service, and the good wishes of all who are privileged to know him will accompany him in his well deserved retirement.

Mr. Davis entered the Company’s service in 1902, and in the following year was transferred to the personal staff of Mr. G. Mills, the Secretary at that time. His inherent ability at once became manifest and marked him out as one destined to succeed. His subsequent achievements have not belied his early premise, for in 1922 he became Assistant Secretary, and in 1926 he was appointed to the Secretary ship of the Company on the retirement of Mr. A. E. Bolter.

Mr. Davis has since borne the burden of that exacting office with conspicuous ability, profound knowledge, and a prescience which has been of the greatest value to the Company. His capacity is such that during his career, Mr. Davis has passed the Bar Final examination, become a Chartered Surveyor, a Fellow of the Auctioneers’ Institute and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries, of which latter Institute he was elected President for the year 1932. In 1936 he had the honour of the C.B.E. conferred upon him.

Member of Many Committees

Mr. Davis has acted on behalf of the Company as a Director of the Penarth Pontoon Slipway and Shiprepairing Company, a Delegate to the Railway Clearing House and member of its Superintending Committee.

He has always taken a keen interest in staff matters, and for many years he has been a Trustee of the G.W.R. Enginemen’s and Firemen’s Mutual Assurance, Sick and Superannuation Society, the G.W.R. Pension Society and the G.W.R. Provident Society, and a member of the Committee of Management of the G.W.R. Superannuation Scheme of 1908 and Fund of 1941, and the G.W.R. Salaried Staff Widows’ and Orphans’ Pension Society.

Naval and Air Service

During the 1914-18 war Mr. Davis received His Majesty’s Commission, and served firstly in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve attached to the Royal Naval Air Service, and subsequently in the Royal Air Force, and was decorated with the O.B.E. (Military Division). During the recent war, in addition to his railway duties, he commanded the Kensington Sea Cadet Corps, which reached a notable standard of efficiency.

In his younger days Mr. Davis was a keen volunteer with the old Paddington Rifles and was well known locally as a cricketer, footballer and swimmer; it is therefore particularly fitting that he should have been Chairman of the G.W.R. (London) Athletic Association for 21 years. He now confines himself to an occasional game of golf, which he plays well, and is Chairman of the Manor House Hotel Golf Club.

Civic Honours

Of late years Mr. Davis has interested himself in municipal government, and in the years 1945-47 he was Worshipful Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kensington, which high office he adorned with the dignity and sound judgment which are characteristic of him. His erect figure, unfailing courtesy and charm of manner will be much missed by his wide circle of friends at Paddington and elsewhere.