Fred Davis OBE (1913 - 1998)

Born 14 Aug 1913 in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 16 Apr 1998 at age 84 in Denbighshire, Wales, United Kingdom

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Biography

Fred Davis OBE is Notable.

Fred Davis OBE was born in Derbyshire, England.

Birth

Fred Davis was born 14 August 1913, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom

Mother's Maiden Name: Clark

Volume: 7B

Page: 1520

He was the son of Fred Davis & Ann Clark

Baptism

Fred Davis was baptised 6 Sep 1913, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom

Father's Name: Fred Davis

Mother's Name: Ann Eliza nee Clark

Marriage

Married to Sheila

Death

Fred died 16 April 1998, Denbighshire South, Wales, United Kingdom

Reg 64 Entry Number 38

Obituary

Fred Davis, who died on 16 April, 1998, at the age of 84, was a popular English snooker player who enjoyed a remarkable career that yielded an OBE and the affection of a nation. Younger brother of 'Sultan of Snooker' Joe Davis, he initially made his name as a billiards player and went on to win two world titles. He also twice captained England's World Cup side. Even at the age of 67, he was still riding high in the world rankings, refusing to retire from the professional circuit until 1992. Fred Davis was born on 14 August, 1913, in Chesterfield, England. Inspired by his elder brother's success, he nurtured his talent from an early age, beginning with billiards and becoming National Under-16 champion in 1929. He turned professional shortly after and was world junior professional billiards champion for three successive years. His debut world snooker championship, in 1937, saw him lose in the first round to Welshman Bill Withers. Although he had already known he was short-sighted, the defeat convinced him to seek out an optician and get fitted with a pair of swivel-lens glasses, which undoubtedly made a difference the following year when he reached the world semi-final. The outbreak of World War Two in 1939 signalled five years in the army for Mr Davis, before finally returning to the cue sport in 1946 to compete in yet another semi-final. In 1947, with his brother Joe retired from the event, Mr Davis was the favourite to take the trophy but later suffered an 82-63 defeat in the final by Walter Donaldson. A year later, however, he finally took the title and enjoyed a remarkable run of 10 consecutive world finals from 1947 to 1956, winning eight in all. By the 1970s, the emergence of a new breed of player should have seen his game decline. However, even well into his 60s, he remained a supreme force in the sport, reaching a further three world semis and twice taking the world billiards title before playing his final championship match at the Crucible in 1984. Mr Davis continued to compete on the professional circuit until arthritis finally forced him to retire in 1992, by that time the oldest active professional sportsman in the world. He later died on 16 April, 1998, at the age of 84. He was awarded the OBE for services to billiards and snooker in 1977. Only himself and brother Joe have ever done the double. Rumour has it that he once turned up for a match in Warrington, only to find that a chimpanzee had escaped from a local circus and wandered into the snooker area. "Is that my opponent?" he purportedly asked an official, on seeing the animal. After being assured that it was not, he replied, "Well, there are so many new professionals these days, I don't know half of them."

Billiards Life

Fred Davis, OBE was an English professional player of Billiards and Snooker, one of only two players ever to win the world title in both, the other being his brother Joe. He was one of the most popular personalities in the game, with a professional career which lasted from 1929 to 1993.

He won the World Billiards Championships in June 1980, beating Rex Williams 5978-4452, and in so doing became the only player except for Joe Davis to have lifted both the World Snooker and World Billiards titles.

Davis also retained the title later in November the same year, when the championship was restored to a knock-out basis for the first time since 1934. :Davis beat Paddy Morgan 1907-978, John Barrie 1253-1153 and Mark Wildman 3037-2064 in the final to pocket £4000, then a record for a billiards event.

Snooker Life

He was an 8-time World Snooker Champion.

Brother Joe Davis retired from the World Snooker Championship after his 1946 victory, leaving the way open for Fred to win three times, in 1948, 1949 and 1951.

In the Professional Match-play Championship he was successfull 5 times 1952-56.

Davis played professionally well into old age, making his last appearance in the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in 1984 aged 70, where he lost to Bill Werbeniuk 10–4.

Davis only retired in 1993, aged 79, having lost to future world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan (62 years his junior) 5–1 in the Grand Prix qualifying during his last season

Honours

He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1977

Sources

• Birth - "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2NDH-GVW : 1 October 2014), Fred Davis, 1913; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.

• Baptism - "England, Derbyshire, Church of England Parish Registers, 1537-1918," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPZF-938C : 25 September 2019), Fred Davis, 6 Sep 1913; citing 6 Sep 1913; citing Baptism, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom, Derbyshire Record Office, England.

• Marriage -

• Death - Fred Davis 1998

• Obituary - Fred Davis 1998

• Other reading
• Fred Davis Wikipedia

• £100 Wager - Snooker Game, LONDON, February 15 1939

• Joe Davis Beats Brother Fred at Snooker LONDON. March 20 1940

• CAN SNOOKER HIS SERGEANT.-MAJOR

• Lindrum To Meet Davis

• DONALDSON WINS SNOOKER TITLE

• DAVIS SNOOKER CHAMPION

• Davis retained his world professional snooker title

• Notable Billiards players