Tom Davies, a renowned journalist and author, passed away at the age of 82 due to dementia and pneumonia. He gained prominence in the 1970s through his work with several major British broadsheets, including the Sunday Times and the Observer, where he contributed to diary columns such as Atticus and Pendennis. Known for his unconventional approach, he was described by journalist Peter Deeley as an "idiosyncratic volcano."
Davies began his career as a teacher, serving with Voluntary Service Overseas in Indonesia and Malaysia after graduating in 1963. He later taught in Cardiff before transitioning to journalism with the Western Mail in 1966. By 1970, he had joined the Sunday Times and spent the subsequent 15 years writing for various publications and freelancing for radio.
His journalism was characterized by both eccentric and serious endeavors. He interviewed actresses while they rode on his bicycle handlebars and covered pop concerts, but also tackled significant subjects like the conditions of the London hospital in Whitechapel and reported on the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Eventually, Davies moved to California with his family, where he authored his first book, "Merlyn the Magician and the Pacific Coast Highway," in 1982. Over his lifetime, he published 16 books, ranging from travel and religious titles to novels and his memoir, "The Reporter’s Tale," in 2009.
Born in Pontypridd and raised in Cardiff, Davies won a scholarship to study philosophy at Cardiff University. His early life included work as a merchant seaman and a volunteer social worker. He married Liz Davies in 1967 and had three sons: Julian, Steffan, and Nathan. In the early 2000s, the couple moved to Bala in Snowdonia, where they ran an art gallery.
In 2014, Tom and Liz traveled extensively in Australia, a journey he later chronicled in his book "Bush Revelations." He is survived by his wife Liz, their three sons, four grandchildren, and his sister Jackie.