It was with great sadness that we learnt that Charles Davis, one of the three founders of the EuroMilitaire Show, died on Mon 28th May.  Diagnosed in April last year with cancer, he had fought the condition with his usual irrepressible humour and to the end was still doing all he could to ensure that EuroMilitaire 2012 should be just as great a success as ever.  He died peacefully at home with his wife Anji and his daughter Hayley at his bedside. 

Charles had always had a great appetite for life.  For many years he lived in Sweden and during that time he became involved in the music industry, producing an album for his friend Lee Hazelwood, the composer of the Nancy Sinatra hit “These boots are made for walking”, and he was also a member of a private team, racing modified Hillman Imp saloon cars.  After his return to England he worked for a time for the Swedish Chamber of Commerce. He then set up a free newspaper, ‘The Channel 5,’ and it was while he was running the paper that he, Lyn Sangster of Historex and Ray Lamb of Post Militaire got together to organize a military modelling show for the south-east and so EuroMilitaire was born.

His last venture was opening his model shop in Sandgate, “Trumpet Banner”, which enabled him to indulge in his passion of all things Napoleonic and the painting of 54mm Napoleonic figures, whilst at the same time setting up ‘The Shepway Modelling Society’.  Charles was also a regular contributor to Military Modelling and a number of other modelling magazines, writing reviews on a variety of figure kits, supplied by the manufacturers.

There is no doubt that Charles’ death will leave a large gap in the lives of his many friends, one of whom said to me “Some people’s lives leave a large footprint in this world” and Charles certainly was one of them.  Our deepest sympathy goes out his widow, Anji and all his family and I hope that they will gain some comfort from the knowledge that he leaves behind a lasting legacy with his input into one of, if not the most, prestigious modelling shows in Europe.

Please send any donations for the Pilgrims Hospice, Ashford, Kent, to the Funeral Directors, W.J.Farrier & Sons Ltd, 37, Bouverie Road West, Folkestone, Kent CT20 2SZ  tel: 01303-245500.

Richard Windrow.