Gabrielle Davis

Mary G. W. Davis (née Taylor; 7 December 1938 – 24 February 2025), known as Gabrielle Davis, was a British Conservative politician who was a councillor for Canterbury, as well as serving as Sheriff of Canterbury from 2009 to 2010. She was notable for volunteering to head the "defence of our heritage" movement. This action moved against a vote by the Canterbury City Council Executive Committee on 21 January 2010 to close Herne Bay Museum and Gallery and other repositories of local heritage for the sake of saving £112,600 per year.

Background Davis was born on 7 December 1938 in Canterbury, and lived in Herne Bay, attending La Sainte Union Convent School which was run by the Sisters of La Sainte Union des Sacrés-Coeurs, and is now closed. and interviewed many celebrities including Camilla-Parker Bowles. She lived in Herne Bay, wrote the Beltinge column for Herne Bay Gazette and supported causes concerning pets and wildlife. She was fundraising officer for six years at Cats Protection in Canterbury, and was Trustee for Animals Worldwide.

Duties Davis was elected a member of Canterbury City Council in 2003 and Sheriff of Canterbury in May 2009 and was a ward member for Reculver. In past centuries the post involved tax-collecting and police work, but since 1974 the Sheriff has been relieved of those duties and now represents the City at functions and other civic duties. In May 2010 she was succeeded as Sheriff of Canterbury by Councillor Sally Pickersgill.

Defence of our heritage

In October 2009, Canterbury City Council said it had to save £3.5m for budgeting purposes. The executive committee made its final recommendation to close the museum on 21 January 2010; the final vote to be taken on 18 February 2010.

Personal life and death Gabrielle Davis was married to Noel for 15 years before his death. In 2023, Davis moved to a care home in Cheshire to be close to her family. She died on 24 February 2025, at the age of 86.