Caitlin Quinn
JOAN Davies, co-founder of Sur in English, died on Tuesday at age 85.
Davies was previously featured in the Olive Press’ Expat 100 list along with her husband, Gerry, with whom she founded the English-language newspaper based in Malaga.
Davies was born in England but grew up in her family’s native Wales before moving to Spain with her husband in the mid-1960s.
Both Joan and Gerry Davies worked for the Daily Mail in Spain before eventually settling on the Costa del Sol, where they ran a restaurant, bar and pub.
In 1984, the Davies approached Diario Sur with a proposal for an English-language version of the paper. The first edition was just 16 pages long.
The Davies’ familiarity with the people and places of the Costa del Sol allowed them to fill the pages of their fledgling paper with local news, along with national and international coverage.
Joan Davies remained a contributor at the newspaper for more than a decade following her husband’s death in 1995.
She published a memoir, Memories, Musings and More, in 2013.
Davies is survived by seven younger siblings.
It’s the end of an era! Visited Joan and Gerry at their house in Calahonda many years ago – they also had a very busy Jack Russell style dog called Ianto, I recall. A very enjoyable day. So sorry to hear about this, but when I encountered Joan last (at a Costa Press Club do in 2013, shortly before I left Spain) she seemed very frail.
VERY SAD! Many of us will miss her and recall how many things she accomplished for English speakers along the Costa del Sol. Many of us tried to learn good Spanish, but sadly, to no avail. RIP
Very interesting,and nice lady…….RIP