Friends attend the funeral of drowned student Rob Davies
Over 40 University of York students and staff members attended the funeral of third year Chemistry student Robert Davies who died after going missing on a night out with friends. Davies’ body was found on October 1 in the River Ouse after a week long search by police and emergency services.
The University organised a coach to take those wishing to pay respects at the service on Monday, October 15. The funeral was held in Davies’ hometown of Bury, just north of Manchester.
Davies’ father, Tony Davies said: “Rob was a son who any parent would have been proud to have.”
Head of Chemistry, Dr. Paul Walton who spoke at the service said: “Telling Rob’s year about the tragic events was the hardest thing I have had to do in the 15 years I have been at York”.
Davies was a skilled musician whose parents had recently bought him a piano as an early 21st birthday present. Music played at the service including a piano piece by Davies’ favourite composer, Chopin, and the song “Whatever” by Oasis.
Davies’ sister, Helen, spoke of the last time she saw her brother. She said: “He came over and gave me a hug and said have a good time at uni. I didn’t know how precious that time was.” Helen had only just begun her first year at the University of Lancaster when her brother went missing. She returned to university soon after the body was discovered.
Davies was a popular figure on campus. A Facebook group named ‘Find Rob Davies’, which was originally set up to co-ordinate student effort to assist police with the search for the lost student, has now been turned into a memorial site with hundreds of messages of sympathy and support.
The Chemistry Department has initiated plans for a memorial for Davies, likely to include a commemorative plaque and a bench near the department’s base.
