Island obituary – Michael Davidson

By Press Release Oct 5, 2022

A well-known Bembridge farmer, shooter and motorsport enthusiast, Mike Davidson, has died aged 79.

Mike was born on the Island, into a farming family with Scottish heritage and was the eldest of four. He was well-known across the Island through agriculture, field sports, motor-trade, motorsport and bowls.

Mike had three main professions in his lifetime: butchery, agricultural contracting and, latterly, he owned a garage and metalworking business in Bembridge. Growing up, the family concentrated efforts on poultry and arable farming. He spent time in London learning butchery and then joined the family business for a period, before working in an agricultural business. His engineering ability, borne out of his experience growing up on the farms, lent itself perfectly to the business he ran from 1980 until his retirement in 2006.

Mike was well known in the farming and shooting circles, and a syndicate member on many shoots across the Island throughout his life. A keen spectator at ploughing matches watching his friends and family compete; his heart was very much in the land and countryside.

Mike joined the Isle of Wight Car Club in the early 1960s (becoming vice-president in the 1990s) and enjoyed an illustrious motorsport career over three decades.

Early beginnings saw success in slaloms and later in rallies with Terry Weaver; a friendship of 60 years, which took them all over the UK and Europe competitively. After retiring from rallying, he helped organise the Island Stages Rally throughout the 1980s. Ad-hoc appearances thereafter, at auto tests, never failed to thrill onlookers.

Taking up bowls in his retirement seemed an unlikely sport for a man so fond of speed, yet his natural sporting ability saw further success in individual, couples and team matches and tournaments, with partner, Daphne, and other members of local bowls clubs.

He also made a considerable contribution by volunteering to keep the grounds up.

He was loved by many and had a great interest in others and young people. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and Daphne, his partner of 20 years.