A life dedicated to the fire brigade
OBITUARY Peter Rex Davies October 2 1942 — March 8, 2017
The death of fire fighter Peter Davies on March 8 led to a huge turnout for his funeral held at the Pahiatua Fire Station, with around 600 people present.
The rescue helicopter hovered above and dipped as a mark of respect.
With his life dedicated to the Fire Service, Peter had amassed an amazing record of 56 years’ service. This feat has been achieved by only a handful of people in New Zealand. His 50-year service medal was presented in 2010 then another three two-year medals. He was able to start with the fire service at 17 on February 1, 1960 (when the minimum age was 18) as a messenger, under the guidance of chief fire officer Val Nation. He achieved a 100 per cent attendance record for musters, fires and meetings for 26 years and a 98 per cent attendance over 56 years. Out of 2382 callouts he attended 2147. He was chief fire officer from 2006 to 2011.
“Pahiatua Volunteer Fire Brigade’s turnout record is second to none. Their daytime record is quicker than permanent fire officers. At night time the brigade members can turn out in 90 seconds with most other places being two to three minutes,” says former senior station officer David Boustead
With his wife Bev and children Glenn and Wendy, the family lived right next door to the fire station for 46 years with their phone being the station number. Bev was able to set off the fire siren on some occasions. She spent many years manning the two-way radio communications in the fire Station while all the firefighters were on callouts. Along with other families they would make loads of tea and toast for the firefighters.
Peter was station keeper while living next door. He would wash the fire engines and took pride in the fire station complex.
In the early days there was no critical incident team when a death was involved. The firefighters had to deal with trauma by themselves — sometimes with a bottle of rum — which meant the family would have to be quiet around Peter for a few days. Peter was proud of his son Glenn who gave six years’ service to the Pahiatua Volunteer Fire Brigade and 19 years’ service at Feilding.
“He was a really good dad,” said Glenn. His daughter Wendy also spoke highly of him.
Competitions were part of the Brigade. Over 12 years Peter was involved in teams at national level where they won the Tiger Harland trophy for suction pump 42 years ago. At the United Fire Brigades nationals, Peter was in the team placed second for hose and S D standpipe in 1971. His team won at Matamata in 1973 for featherweight pump, replace feeder. His team was placed second at the same event for four men laying line of hose. Another team win was at the nationals in 1975 at Christchurch for four men in featherweight pump extension. Firefighter Doug Benton could remember hearing the result on radio as a four year old. In later years Peter was coaching a team that competed in Invercargill.
There used to be a crash rescue crew, with no siren for vehicle accidents. The crew comprised Spike (Allen) Jones, Gary Nation, David Boustead, Peter Davies, Owen Beales, Ian Sturgess and Warwick Burling. Bernie Fairweather would get the call and if the crew was training at Rotary Park they would hear him tooting his horn and everyone would drop what they were doing and jump onto the fire engine. Spike made them run from the fire station in full uniform to Rotary Park to get them fit.
Peter used to drive a 1981 International fire engine with an open cab that twisted in an opposite direction to the body which fireman Doug Benton described as giving “scary rides, with the crew facing backwards, especially over the railway line at Pahiatua Railway Station”.
The Carter Holt mill fire was one of Pahiatua’s biggest ever fires. Firefighter David Boustead arrived at the station where Peter shouted out “it’s the bloody mill”. They would normally wait for the full crew but just the two of them drove off to get a head start on the monster blaze. Another big blaze was the Post Office Hotel which started at 4am and it was so cold there were icicles on the power lines.
Many times Peter was observed sprinting across the road from Carter Holt’s building, where KJ Mitre 10 is today, to get to the station for a fire callout.
“His enthusiasm and dedication for Pahiatua was immense. It was total immersion in the Fire Service and the surrounding search and rescue and ambulance. It was his life,” said David Boustead, senior station officer. Peter drove the local ambulance for some years
Firemen used to go out to a farm to shoot geese and pluck them back at the Fire Station for raffles for fundraising.
Peter worked for Dalgety Crown, Robert Holt & Son where he was manager and Field Air and Tui Trading, which became RD1 and now Farm Source. He received long service recognition and would have completed 26 years this month with RD1/Farm Source. He had a great relationship with his clients.
As an accomplished rep rugby player Peter scored a try for Bush against Australia as a centre three-quarter in 1964, the only try. He played with locals Graeme Humphries, Bob Swanney, Henry Tua and Ross Mills.
Peter also did a huge amount of work organising Periodic Detention workers for six years.