Dickie Davies, with that well-known white blade by means of his mane like Shergar, was the face of ITV sport in an age earlier than the business diversified into the panorama we all know right now.
He died on Sunday, aged 94. His dying was introduced by one other now-veteran of these ITV years, the extremely regarded Jim Rosenthal, then a junior to the front-of-house star.
Speaking on behalf of the Davies household, Rosenthal reported: ‘With large disappointment, we announce Dickie Davies handed away this morning.
‘So pleased with his 20 years of World Of Sport, three Olympic Games and a good profession on the telly. He is survived by a loving spouse, two adoring sons, 4 grandkids and two beloved canines.’
It takes many people again to these days when World Of Sport was a staple of our sporting training, albeit in an period when the BBC held and cherished most of the crown jewels. In reminiscence, ITV’s output concentrated a nice deal on Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks, however that was a part of its enduring allure, and never the restrict of its scope.
Dickie Davies handed away aged 94 on Sunday and was a pioneer for ITV’s sport protection
Davies was finest recognized for his time presenting the hit ITV sports activities present for 17 years
Davies stands with fellow ITV sports activities presenter and commentator Brian Moore (left)
Later in his profession he labored for Eurosport, Sky Sports Gold and Classic FM, he’s pictured above in 2006
Davies was born in 1928 and got here to broadcasting late, together with after a interval on RMS Queen Mary, the most opulent ocean liner of its day, as a purser. ‘Dying to get house’, he met by likelihood an government from American broadcaster NBC. Following an audition, he was invited in 1960 on to a trial with Southern Television.
These have been the small display screen’s pioneering days, the time of Whicker and Coleman, the form of males, who with Davies, wrote the grammar of broadcasting.
It was in his new TV calling that he met a imaginative and prescient mixer referred to as Liz, who turned his spouse, as he took on an announcer function on £19 a week. Of his profession, he instructed the Telegraph: ‘I cherished it. I’m a fortunate boy.’
It was Jimmy Hill who pressed on him the shrewd thought of calling himself ‘Dickie’, a extra distinctive sobriquet than the Richard his spouse most popular. Jimmy acquired that one proper.
He interviewed Muhammad Ali, naturally. He coated a lot of the massive fights, unflappably, his well-groomed moustache and bouffant a trademark. His coiffure was pure, he insisted, it doesn’t matter what anybody thought. His fame led to an look on The Morecambe & Wise Show, these being the massive days for terrestrial tv, and This is Your Life.
Davies, with former athlete Alan Pascoe (left), and swimmer David Wilkie was a pinoneer
He coated the nice days of Coe and Ovett, was a little dismissive of the wrestling exhibits throughout World Of Sport’s life between 1968 and 1985, a rival to Grandstand on the third channel.
He notably coated the 1966 World Cup and the 1972 Munich Olympics, of Black September fame. Also snooker, golf, darts, bowling, tennis and racing.
Of Sir Alf Ramsey, he stated: ‘Impossible to interview — he hated the media.’
He went on to work for Eurosport, Sky Sports Gold with Sir Bobby Charlton and Classic FM.
Asked the secret of his success, he replied: ‘Homework,’ including: ‘I had some nice instances.’
