John Wingett Davies

John Wingett Davies OBE (1908 – 11 September 1992) was a British company director in the fields of ship broking, aviation, and films, whose main interest was as an exhibitor in the world of cinema.

He was managing director of Davies Cinemas Ltd and chairman of British Cinematograph Theatres, Deputy Chairman of Davies and Newman, the parent company of Dan-Air, and President of the Cinema Exhibitors' Association.

Life

The son of William Davies, a sea captain and ship-broker, the young Davies was born in London and educated at Marlborough College and Whitgift School, then became a broker in his father's firm, Davies and Newman. In July 1928, when the Davies family was living at Coopersale Hall, Epping, his younger sister, Letitia, married F. C. Chalklin, a research physicist of Hadlow, at St Clement Danes, Strand, London,[1] and a year later his older sister Mary Frances married Geoffrey Gillam[2] and went on to have three sons.[3]

In 1931 Davies entered the cinema business and became a member of the London branch committee of the Cinema Exhibitors' Association, going on to be elected as its chairman and as a delegate to the General Council. In 1947, he was managing director of Davies Cinemas Ltd, with offices at 26–27, D'Arblay Street, London W1.[4] In 1952 he was vice-president of the CEA[5] and President in 1953–54.[6] In 1974 he was Director of F.I.D.O.[7]

After his father's death in 1936, Davies was a major shareholder in Davies and Newman and took a seat on the board. By 1971, he was deputy chairman, under the chairmanship of Frederick Newman. In that year, 1971, the Davies and Newman Group was floated on the London Stock Exchange, having become more important thanks to the success of its subsidiary Dan-Air.[8]

Davies was also chairman of British Cinematograph Theatres Ltd, and in the 1977 New Year Honours he was appointed OBE for services to the Cinematograph Films Council.[9] He retired in 1984[10] and died in September 1991, leaving an estate valued at £614,274. At the time of his death he was living at 45, Melbury Road, West Kensington, London W14.[11]

Private life

In 1931, Davies married Elizabeth Mary Mann, at Epping.[12] Their son Richard William was born in 1933, a daughter, Diana Wingett, in 1938, and a second son, Michael John, in 1946.[13]

Davies was a nephew of Sir Joseph Davies (1866–1954), a business man and Liberal politician, and acted as Executor of his uncle's will.[14]

Notes
  1. "MR. F. C. CHALKLIN — MISS L. DAVIES" in Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser dated 6 July 1928
  2. "Marriage of Mr G. G. Gillam" in Hendon & Finchley Times dated Friday 27 September 1929, p. 13, col. 5
  3. A. M. Nussey, "Geoffrey Gerrard Gillam" in William Munk, ed., The Roll of the Royal College of Physicians of London: Continued to 1975 (The College, 1982), pp. 196–198
  4. "Davies, John Wingett" in Kinematograph Year Book 1947, p. 66
  5. The Film Daily Year Book of Motion Pictures (John W. Alicoate, 1952), p. 724
  6. "DAVIES, JOHN WINGETT, managing director, Davies Cinemas, Ltd.; British Cinematograph Theatres, Ltd.; b. 1908; National president CEA, 1953-54; chairman London Branch CEA, 1948; member Cinematograph Films Council. Address: 26-27, D'Arblay Street, W.1." in Kinematograph Year Book (Odhams Press, 1954), p. 60
  7. "DAVIES, JOHN WINGETT, Exhibitor" in British Film and Television Year Book, Vols. 29-30 (Peter Noble, 1974), p. 100
  8. Letter to Hambros Bank from Mr. F. E. F. Newman, M.C., Chairman and Managing Director of Davies and Newman, dated 30 September 1971, published in The Financial Times dated 4 October 1971
  9. The London Gazette (Supplement) dated 31 December 1976, p. 10
  10. Directors at danairremembered.com, accessed 22 April 2019
  11. "DAVIES, John Wingett of 45 Melbury Rd London W14 died 11 September 1991" in Probate Index for 1992, at probatesearch.service.gov.uk, accessed 24 April 2019
  12. "Davies John W & Mann Elizabeth M" in Register of Marriages for Epping Registration District, vol. 4a (1931), p. 985
  13. Davies Cinemas Limited: Officers at companieshouse.gov.uk, accessed 27 April 2019; "Davies Richard W, Mann" in Register of Births for Marylebone Registration District, vol. 1a (1933), p. 578; "Davies, Diana Wingett, Mann" in Register of Births for Kensington Registration District, vol. 1a (1938), p. 137; "Davies, Michael J, Mann" in Register of Births for Kensington Registration District, vol. 5c (1946), p. 1979
  14. “DAVIES sir Joseph K.B.E.” in Wills and Administrations 1955 (England and Wales series, 1955), p. 695
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