Davedeedozybeakymickandtitchobit: Trevor Ward-Davies

Trevor Ward-Davies, bassist (and 'Dozy') with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick And Titch, has died.

In many ways, Ward-Davies was the key member of the band, having signed up various members of other Salisbury bands to join a group that was first The Beatnicks, then Dave Dee And The Bostons, and finally Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick And Titch. The new name, and the comedy nicknames, were added to the mix by the managers - Ward-Davies became Dozy after he attempted to eat a wrapper rather than a chocolate bar. In the 1960s, that got you a nickname. In 2015, you'd just get a 'U okay hun' meme.

He suffered for his art, getting teeth knocked out during a performance on Ready Steady Go. The band enjoyed four years of solid success, including the number one Legend Of Xanadu before Dave Dee headed off for a solo career.

Ward-Davies had sometimes provided lead vocals on album tracks, so it wasn't a total stretch for the band to carry on as the slightly easier to type Dozy, Beaky, Mick And Titch. They continued to work and tour, splitting for a while in 1972 and reforming in the 80s, gently moving from creating new material to becoming an early fixture on the nostalgia circuit. A second wind reunion saw Dave Dee return to the fold, staying with the band until his death in 2009.

Trevor Ward-Davies was 70; he died 13th January, 2015 after a short illness.