Family and friends pay tribute: “He lived life to the full - no one can take that from him”
Friends and family of Robert Davies have paid tribute to the life of the third year University of York student whose body has been found in the river but not yet formally identified.
Davies, born November 20, 1986, was entering into his third year of a four year Masters Degree in Chemistry at the University of York. He was successful academically and had already secured a place in the final year of the programme.
Speaking to Nouse, Davies’s younger sister, Helen, who has just begun her first year at the University of Lancaster, said: “I would like to thank everyone for putting so much effort into helping find Rob; we all really appreciate everything that you did and our thoughts are with all of his friends who will be grieving like us. My big brother really was a great guy and even though 20 isn’t a great age he lived his whole life to the full and no one can take that away from him.”
Davies was from Bury, a former mill town just north of Greater Manchester with a population of 60,000, and was an avid supporter of Manchester City FC. The religious views section of his Facebook profile was filled in “God is a Man City Fan”.
James Koziaryn, a third year Chemistry student, was a friend of Davies from both university and home. Koziaryn was also raised in Bury and both men attended Castlebrook Highs School and Holycross College before moving to York for university. In their first year, they established Paintball Society, of which Davies was treasurer. The society collapsed after the two left but has since been revived.
The two travelled to Thailand over the summer with another friend from home, visiting Bangkok and attending a Half Moon party on Ko Samui. After Davies went missing in the early hours of September 23, Koziaryn and a number of other students helped to organise the volunteer search that went into York appealing for information.
Koziaryn said of his friend: “He was one of a kind, I’ve never met anyone like him in my life. He was never one to take centre stage but was one of those people who was always there for you. He was a fun-loving, genuine and selfless friend who was taken too early. He will be forever remembered and sorely missed.”
Davies had little idea what he wanted to do after university. Koziaryn said: “We used to talk about it a lot. I was sure I wanted nothing to do with Chemistry but Rob really didn’t know. He was like any normal student that way.”
Speaking at a press conference before the discovery of the body, Davies’ father, Tony, said his son was “the kind of lad that anyone would be proud to have as a son. He was so happy to be going back to York for his third year of university, he loved the place.”
He added: “If you talked to him it might well have been about football - he was a big Man City fan - his music, or his recent trip to Thailand with his mates.”
Davies was a skilled pianist who liked to play to help himself relax. His parents had bought him a piano before he returned to York as an early birthday present. He would have been 21 in November. Davies has been planning to teach his housemates to play after his return to York.
Andy Day, who also helped to organise the search said: “Rob was one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met ad one of my best friends, and I know that me and all the people who were lucky enough to know him have lost a great friend.”
Phil Lester lived in the same house as Davies in both his first and second year. When Davies went missing Lester posted a highly viewed video on YouTube appealing for information. Lester has said: “Rob was an amazing friend and we miss him so much. He would always have time for his friends and was always there when we needed him. Our house feels empty without him. Thanks to all of Rob’s friends for being so kind during this awful time.”
