Dickie Davies facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dickie Davies
|
|
|---|---|
Davies in 2012
|
|
| Born |
Richard John Davies
30 April 1928 |
| Died | 19 February 2023 (aged 94) |
| Occupation | Television presenter |
| Known for | World of Sport |
| Spouse(s) |
Liz Hastings
(m. 1962) |
| Children | 2 |
Richard John Davies (born April 30, 1928 – died February 19, 2023) was a well-known British television presenter. He was famous for hosting a popular sports show called World of Sport from 1968 to 1985.
Contents
Dickie Davies: Early Life and Beginnings
Richard Davies grew up in Wallasey, England. He went to Oldershaw Grammar School after passing an important exam called the eleven-plus. After school, he joined the Royal Air Force for his National Service, which was a period of military training. Later, he worked as a purser on large ocean liners like the RMS Queen Mary and RMS Queen Elizabeth. A purser is like a manager on a ship, taking care of passengers and money.
A Career in Sports Broadcasting
Starting in Television
Dickie Davies began his television career as an announcer for Southern Television. At first, people knew him by his full name, Richard Davies. But his colleague, Jimmy Hill, who was also a famous football expert, suggested he use the shorter name "Dickie Davies." This name stuck with him throughout his career.
Hosting World of Sport
In 1965, Dickie joined a new sports show called Wide World of Sports, which later became World of Sport. He started as a backup presenter to Eamonn Andrews, who was the main host. In 1968, when Eamonn Andrews left the show, Dickie Davies took over as the main presenter. He became the face of World of Sport for many years, hosting it until 1985. The show was very popular and brought many different sports to viewers every Saturday afternoon.
After World of Sport
Even after World of Sport ended in 1985, Dickie Davies continued to work for ITV Sport. He presented many exciting sports, including boxing, darts, and snooker. He also helped cover the 1988 Seoul Olympics, bringing the excitement of the games to homes across Britain. He left ITV Sport in August 1989.
New Challenges in Broadcasting
After leaving ITV, Dickie Davies joined Eurosport, a new sports channel that was just starting. He presented their snooker coverage, showing his love for the game. He also worked for Classic FM, a radio station, where he was their first sports editor. He would even present sports news from his own home!
Overcoming Challenges
In 1995, Dickie Davies had a stroke. This made it difficult for him to continue his work at Classic FM. However, he worked very hard to recover. It took a year or two for his speech to fully return to normal, but he made a good recovery. In the late 1990s, he even hosted a show called Dickie Davies' Sporting Heroes, where he looked back at famous sports moments and athletes.
Personal Life and Legacy
Dickie Davies married Liz Hastings in 1962. Liz worked as a vision mixer at Southern Television, which means she helped control what viewers saw on screen. They had twin sons together.
Dickie Davies passed away on February 19, 2023, at the age of 94. He is remembered as a friendly and professional sports presenter who brought joy to many sports fans for decades.
