Patrick Charles Davey

Pat was born in Johannesburg in 1957 and moved to a farm in Buccleuch at a young age. He shared many stories about the farm and the antics that he and his brothers got up to. After school he joined Media, his father's company. This is where he learned many technical skills relating to the mechanics of cars and military vehicle engines. He was taught to apply mathematical skills when working on projects. These he applied throughout his life; to every project that he was involved in. Pat built microlights with his brothers and this ignited his passion for flying. He underwent the medical flight test and passed with flying colours.

After Media he sold make-up, tv sets, started a video shop and onwed a shop fitting business before he started working at the SABC TV3. He was involved in set design, set building and was even a stunt driver for a few movies. Here he met many interesting people who remained friends with him for many years. 

He married in 1988 and had two beautiful children. He loved them dearly and was very proud of their achievements. He would do anything that they wanted him to do; from making bottle connectors for a game, staying up till the early morning hours adding the final touches to a birthday cake (spent most of his time in the kitchen with Chrislene teaching her how to bake) to building computers with Timothy, spending many hours fixing cars and all sorts of broken appliances.   

Pat's talents were amazing as he was able to research for his projects and applied his technical skills to a vast number of projects: Just to mention a few: 

• polystyrene rampant horse (built in the lounge)
• a polystyrene baby dummy to be displayed outside a company's door
• polystyrene stage coaches for weddings
• decorated wedding and birthday cakes  involving diverse themes)
• 3D printing cookie cutters, bottle connectors, vases, ramps for wheelchairs, cup holders for his scooter)
• designed, built and programmed eye exercise board for Marthie's school
• designed and built a robotics table with an easily removable roof from perspex - he built this table and roof single-handedly
• large car for Dian's school photo shoot
• made a large hamburger with chips for Marthie's go-kart day
• built built-in cupboards according to Chrislene and Timothy's designs for their bedrooms 

He was not limited by material, size or technical difficulty. This is what made him so unique.

After leaving the SABC Pat worked at a company that manufactured machines for the medical industry. After Chrislene was born, he worked again at Media for a few months. Hereafter he began installing gear locks and traveled to various cities in South Africa to build up a client base.

In 1998 he relocated to Noupoort where he managed the computer database for the Noupoort Christian Rehabilitation Centre. Pat enjoyed ministering to the people in the Centre. He also assisted on the Centre's farm and worked on the windmill which worked well afterwards.

A year later, back in Gauteng, Pat worked for an insurance company. He took the required photographs for the client's claims. He travelled to Pretoria and back every day. He found new routes to Pretoria without using a map. He always said that new routes allowed us to see new things around us.

A new door opened when he went for an interview at the Transvaal Museum. Here he learned that flies move to higher places when the air pressure drops. That question plagued Marthie for many years. At last, Pat was able to give her the answer. Google was not around at that stage; Pat became the source of knowledge. 

He worked for a number of years as a science model builder at the Science Museum. He spoke about building a model which burped when coins were dropped in. It is here that he was medically boarded.

Pat relocated to Middelton in 2005 where he managed a small country town which composed of a hotel, a church, post office, a small grocery store and a pub. He enjoyed the time he was in Middelton.

Moving to the dairy farm opened yet again new doors for him. He managed the dairy and enjoyed the fresh milk direct from the cows. These days brought back many of his early farm days when he was a child. Driving a tractor and monitoring the water sprays was part of his work.

When he moved to Somerset East, he worked for a company who installed internet towers for farmers. These were erected on the mountain tops - an adventure for him. Climbing mountains on 4x4s only to climb right to the top of the tower on a harness and enjoy the beautiful nature that surrounded him in that moment. Keeping in line with the tech world, Pat also tried his hand at developing and created a website for his boss.

Once back in Pretoria again, Pat worked as an agent selling houses in the Moot area. He developed his internet skills and encouraged the owner to advertise on the internet.

As his health began to become challenging, he retired fully and spent a lot of time on the internet, researching his interests and learning once again new skills. He learnt how to build 3D printers and how to print any item that was requested of him.

As the years passed, his health became more challenging, however, this did not deter him from continuing to learn and understand various aspects of technology, from monitoring the flights in the air to tracking the space stations and landing on the moon. His mental capability never failed him, however, his physical body just could not keep up anymore. 

Pat found the last month very trying and spent the last week in the hospital. Although he found breathing easier, his heart could not cope anymore. Pat was loved and cherished by so many and has left a legacy behind that can be seen in the lives of his wife, children, and grandchildren.