Tributes paid to 'amazing' Burnham parish councillor who passed away after contracting COVID-19

Tributes have poured in for a much-loved Burnham parish councillor who passed away at the age of 61 after contracting COVID-19.

Cllr Perry Davies passed away on Friday, February 5 in Torrevieja, Spain.

Perry came to live in Burnham at the age of four, attending St Peter’s CofE Primary School and later Burnham Secondary School.

His career saw him serve as a PSCO and Special Constable at Thames Valley Police in the late seventies and ran family business Burnham Deli alongside his parents Pat and Dennis Davies for a spell in the eighties.

In 2000, he became the managing director of Abbey Windows and Conservatories Ltd, up until two years ago when he handed it over to his business partner so he could spend more time in Spain.

Perry, who lived with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for ‘a number of years’, met his wife Joy in September 1989 and they married 16 months ago, 30 years since they met.

In February 2020, the pair went to Spain for a four-week holiday, but due to Perry's COPD and the start of the coronavirus pandemic, he was unable to fly back and they spent the last year living in Spain.

He was elected as a Burnham parish councillor in May 1999.

Following the rebuild of Burnham Park Hall in 2009, Perry took forward his vision to make the hall the ‘hub of the community’ and, together with the hall’s general manager, Louise Hayday, spent years transforming it.

Joy said: “Spain was just one of Perry’s many great passions and living here for the last year has been one of the happiest years of our lives.

“He dealt with his illness and disability with great fortitude and sheer bloody-mindedness, refusing to ever let it get in the way of anything he put his mind to.

“He will be very greatly missed my me and our family.”

Remembering her step dad, Laura Simmonds, said: “Perry was an amazing step dad to me.

“I have so many lovely memories of Perry – we travelled the world on cruise ships, his passion for good food, good restaurants and real ale, and also his love of sailing and F1.

“He was a fantastic step father and grandfather to Nathan, Kian and Billy who absolutely adored him.”

She added: “He will never be forgotten and I’m so grateful for everything he did for me and I hope I will continue to make him proud.”

Louise Hayday, general manager at Burnham Park Hall, said: “Perry had a vision of what Burnham Park Hall could be and what it could mean to the community so together we set about making it happen. He was my rock, my wing man and a pillar of support.

"Perry was so proud of what has been achieved at Burnham Park Hall, his passion was instrumental in growing the live music nights, the music festivals and nurturing both local and young talent.

"The local community were his priority in everything he did and the amount of his own time he gave up for the community is immeasurable."

She added: “Perry was so much more than a councillor to the staff at Burnham Park Hall, he was a member of the team, a member of our little BPH family and he will leave a hole that will never be filled, we will all miss him so much.”

Cllr Marie Hammon, chairman of Burnham Parish Council, said: “He was a wonderful man and an amazing councillor.

“The amazing thing about Perry is that he has influenced everybody, he has improved everybody’s lives. He has gone into everybody’s lives and just been there, he’s our rock.”

She added: “I will miss Perry for always and I have learnt so much from him and he was a star within Burnham Parish Council, no doubt.”

Perry also leaves behind his mother Pat Davies, his sister Tracey Biggs, his nephew and niece, Heather and Kevin Newell and great-nieces Skye and Georgie Newell.

Burnham Parish Council is seeking ideas for ways to commemorate Perry.

Visit www.burnhamparish.gov.uk to get in touch.