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12.03.2020

Nicholas George Davin 1945 - 2020

We have received the sad news this morning that Ireland’s veteran aerial lift entrepreneur and past president of IPAF Nicholas Davin passed away yesterday, he was 75 at the start of the month.

Nicholas Davin owned and managed Aerial Platform Hire and entered the access market in the late 1970s after winning a long term boom lift rental contract.

He signed up as a JLG dealer in January 1980 and has been active ever since, both running a rental business and a successful sales operation from the company’s locations in Clane, County Kildare and Mallow, County Cork. 40 years later the company still represents JLG throughout Ireland. One of the manufacturers oldest European dealers.
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Nicholas Davin (L) with Craig Paylor in 2010


He had been battling with cancer for the past couple of years but had the 'all-clear' late last year. He leaves behind wife Liza, daughters Kay, Eleanor and Elizabeth, and two grandsons.

Karel Huijser, of JLG said: "I am saddened to hear the news that Nicholas Davin, founder and Managing Partner of Access Platform Sales and Aerial Platform Hire in Ireland, and one of JLG's very first distributors in the Europe, Africa & Middle East region, passed away on the 11th of March. In memory of Nicholas, I will remember our encounters over the past years, his passionate personality and tenacity in running his business, his loyalty to JLG, as well the pride he took in representing our brand in the market. My thoughts are with his close family and loved ones."

Vertikal Comment

Nicholas Davin was truly one of a kind and certainly had the ‘gift of the gab’ and loved the industry, even if from time to time he would get frustrated with poor rental rates or pricing discipline, or any policy from JLG that he considered to be overly 'corporate'.

He was a true character, and many will miss the way he would pass on news or comment on something he thought was ludicrous. We will certainly miss his phone calls to the office, to pass on a tip-off or suggest we investigate s particular issue.

Comments

Kevin OShea
When I worked at JLG in the late 80's, early 90's, I used to jump on the Stranraer to Larne ferry on the monday and meet up with Nicholas. After our 'Ulster fry' we would go touring around visiting customers, enjoying a few drinks, some good steak and a good laugh. Truly one of the highlights of my early days in the access industry. Nicholas was a pleasure to be around. News travels slow sometimes, I'm in South Florida now and the sad news only got to me. Some of the great influences in my early days have spoken about Nicholas, Paul, Mike, John...you know who you are. And they all agreed with me on one simple truth....Nicholas was just a great great man to be around. Very sad news.

Apr 24, 2020

Elizabeth Davin
Thank you for this lovely article and the kind words from friends in the industry, it means a lot to our family and Dad would have been pleased as punch to read them.

Mar 14, 2020

Mr Cherrypicker
Very sad to hear the news that another of the good guys has passed away
Fond memories of a true gent. We shared the craic throughout the years.
Usually we ended up saying that the rental rate for booms should be £10 a foot
as of course was back in the day !!
Sincerest condolences to Andrew, David and all the family on your loss
RIP Nicholas and god bless you
Mike Evans

Mar 14, 2020

Julie Houston Smyth
RIP Nicholas, always a highly respected competitor and adversary, the access industry has lost a remarkable character. My deepest sympathy to his brother Andrew, wife Liza and the Davin family circle.

Mar 13, 2020

paul-richards43
The industry has lost a great access man - Nicholas was very much at the forefront of both developing the IPAF concept internationally, and as a perceptive and pro-active member of the JLG European distributor network during the 1990's and onwards - for which we other regional distributors at that time owe a debt of gratitude.
It was always a pleasure to be in Nicholas' company and he will be greatly missed by all.

Mar 13, 2020

John Ball
RIP Nicholas.A truly great character with a great wit and turn of phrase which I and his many friends in Ireland and overseas will miss.He contributed an enormous amount to the wellbeing and safety of the Access Industry through his involvement with IPAF as a former President and board member and also by being the first to introduce the concept of a country council to IPAFs then MD Paul Adorian and went on to Chair IPAFs first country council in Ireland.This concept has been successfully replicated around the world by IPAF and was undoubtedly instrumental in changing IPAF from a UK based organisation to an international one.As well as being a worthy and respected competitor during my time in the rental business in Ireland I enjoyed many good nights with him when we shared time on the board of IPAF and at the many other overseas industry events.I am sure someone in JLG would know this but he must be the longest serving continuous JLG dealer on the planet.Particulary fond memory of pasta night with Nicholas and Liza in Bolognia many years ago.My heartfelt condolences to Liza,his children, brothers Andrew and David and the wider Davin family. Ar dheis de go raibh a anam

Mar 13, 2020

Tim Whiteman
RIP Mr Davin, a great inspiration. Somebody who always spoke his mind and was truly charming and hospitable with it. Thank-you.

Mar 13, 2020