Powys: Lord David Davies of Llandinam dies aged 83

His family said he had passed away peacefully at home on February 7 after a “great life well lived”.

At just three years old, Lord Davies succeeded his father who died during the Second World War in 1944. He moved to Plas Dinam as a teenager and looked after the much-loved family home for the rest of his life, raising his four children, Eldrydd, Daniel, Lucy and Ben, alongside his wife, the late Lady B Davies.

Lord Davies has been hailed as giving “huge” amounts of time and support to many causes and charities throughout Wales which included establishing the Welsh National Opera’s international reputation while as its chairman for 25 years.

He also served as the Deputy Lieutenant of Powys in 1997 and held the role of Vice-Lord-Lieutenant of the county in 2004.

Lord Davies in his younger days. (Image: Davies Family)

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A minute silence was held at a gathering of riders along with their horses outside Plas Dinam earlier this month where tributes were paid to the master of the David Davies Hunt from 1964 to 2024.

“Dad died as the longest serving master of fox hounds in the country and I reckon therefore the world,” his son said. “He served for 60 years - that is half the hunt's entire existence.

“Everyone who has enjoyed hunting these hounds owes him a huge debt of gratitude. Quite simply the hunt would not survive without him.”

Lord Davies was a keen sailor who competed at the world championships and was also President of the Clywedog Sailing Club. He was president of various charities in north Powys including the Montgomery County Music Festival and Montgomeryshire County Recreation Association.

Lord Davies, pictured here in Newtown in 1982, was the longest serving hunt master in the UK. (Image: County Times archive)

The Welsh Liberal Democrats leader Jane Dodds MS said she was deeply saddened to hear that Lord Davies, who served as a hereditary peer for the party until 1999, had passed away.

“Lord Davies was, like his father, a dedicated Liberal Democrat and served the party well during his time in the House of Lords,” she said.

“On behalf of myself and the Welsh Liberal Democrats, I would like to extend my sympathies and well-wishes to Lord Davies family at this time.”

Oriel Davies, which was built with a legacy left by Lord Davies’ great-aunts and Wales’ greatest art collectors Gwendoline and Margaret Davies, paid tribute to their regular visitor to and supporter of the Newtown art gallery.

Lord Davies was the great-great grandson of the Welsh coal and rail tycoon David Davies who as the son of a Llandinam farmer went on to grow a business empire in the 1800s. Statues were erected in his honour in his home village and in Barry, south Wales.

His grandfather, the first Lord Davies, was hailed as one of the greatest Welshmen of the 20th Century who is remembered as industrialist and founder of the world’s first department to study international politics in Aberystwyth, and founder of the League of Nations Union.

Lord Davies' funeral service will be held at Llandinam Presbyterian Chapel at noon on Saturday, March 2, and afterwards at Plas Dinam Stables.