On behalf of the Kingston College Old Boys fraternity and the wider Fortis family, I extend heartfelt condolences to Claudia, Shadia, his three brothers (Norman, Moses and Austn), and all who now mourn the passing of our brother and friend, Michael Christopher Wilberforce "Dickie" Davis. We, too, grieve, for we have lost a member of our Fortis brotherhood - one who will be long remembered and deeply missed.

Having been duly registered as student No. 6000, Dickie - like several of us here today - began his Fortis journey on Monday, September 8, 1969, when he entered Form 1E at the Melbourne Campus. It was the very same day that Jamaica changed its currency and went from pounds, shillings and pence to dollars and cents. That date forever marked him as a Fortis 69er. It was, for us, a day of immense significance - the beginning of a lifelong bond with Kingston College and with one another. We walked through those purple gates as boys, impressionable and eager, and over time, we grew into men shaped by the discipline, spirit, and camaraderie of KC.

I remember that morning vividly, for Dickie and I were classmates from the very start. We both sat in Form 1E, wide-eyed, full of nervous energy, and ready to take on the world. Our French teacher, Sidney "Foggy" Burrowes, himself a proud KC Old Boy, welcomed us to the purple fold with words that would forever shape our identity. He told us, eleven- and twelve-year-olds, that by mere dint of being enrolled as Kingston College students we were now superior human beings. And then he placed upon us the burden of responsibility - the reminder that thousands of boys across Jamaica would gladly trade places with us. That was the day we first felt the goosebumps of Fortis pride coursing through our veins. And if memory serves me right, Dickie - like me - was still wearing his KC tie even close to midnight that night, reluctant to let go of the joy of finally being a KC boy. (Coincidentally, too, in the KC registers, my student number is the one preceding Dickie's.)

At KC, Dickie distinguished himself on the football field. He was a proud member of the celebrated 1975 team - the legendary "Triple Champions" who swept the Manning Cup, the Walker Cup, and the Olivier Shield. To be part of that team was to etch one's name into KC history, and Dickie's contribution helped to secure the purple and white's dominance in an era of glory. Yet football was not his only gift. As Cedric Lazarus reminds us, Dickie was also a fine tennis player. With his powerful forearm drives - sometimes so fast they gave no chance of reaction - he impressed all who watched him. Though football held sway at KC in those days, and perhaps wisely he kept his tennis prowess away from Manning Cup Coach George T's watchful eye, his love for the game never left him.

Indeed, tennis became Dickie's life's calling. After leaving KC, he poured his talent and energy into coaching, first at prominent high schools in Kingston and then, for over twenty-five years, at summer camps in Maine, USA, where he coached girls in tennis. He was more than a coach - he was a mentor, a guide, and a beloved figure whose warmth drew respect and affection from both his wards and their parents. So strong was their regard for him that many invited him to join their families on vacations abroad. And so, through tennis, Dickie travelled widely - across Europe and beyond. He once told me with characteristic honesty and gratitude, "Patrick, tennis showed me the world; it took me to places I never would have dreamed of being able to afford going to." That was Dickie - humble, appreciative, and aware of the opportunities life afforded him.

What made Dickie remarkable was not only his athleticism or his travels but the way he lived. Jovial and grounded, he carried the Fortis spirit wherever he went. Whether on the football field at KC, on the tennis courts of Maine, or in faraway European cities, he embodied the motto Fortis cadere cedere non potest - the brave may fall but never yield. He was proud of his KC heritage, loyal to his friends, and generous with his gifts.

What stood out most in his final years, however, was not only his courage in the face of illness but his tenderness of heart. In every conversation, he found a way to speak of Claudia - "Sheryl," as he fondly called her - and of his concern that, whatever might come, she should be well and cared for. That deep devotion was emblematic of who he was: a man whose love was steadfast, whose priorities were clear, and whose greatest wish was the well-being of those dearest to him.

Today, as we say farewell, we remember Dickie not only as a footballer, a tennis player, or a coach, but as a friend, a brother, a Fortis man. His story is one of talent shared, opportunities embraced, and friendships cherished. For his wife Claudia, his daughter Shadia, his brothers, and his extended family, we pray comfort and strength. For us, his classmates and the Fortis fraternity, we give thanks for his life and the memories we now hold.

The Fortis Nation is proud to call Michael Christopher Wilberforce Davis - Dickie - our own. We honour his life, his achievements, and his Fortis spirit. Though he now rests, his legacy remains, and his memory will continue to inspire.

Farewell, Dickie. You have played your match, run your race, and fought the good fight. Rest in peace, our brother. Fortis Forever.

Fortis cadere cedere non potest.

Patrick Dallas
September 21, 2025

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