We are very sorry to advise the death of David Hayles (Th 60) who passed away in Bolivia in February 2025, aged 78. David was a colourful character and a master of Scagliola, a decorative plaster that resembles fine marble; his work spanned the globe from Buckingham Palace to Disney World. He taught its intricacies on courses and wrote a definitive book on the subject, The Magic of Scagliola, which was published in 2016. David was a proud fourth generation Haileyburian from a family which can trace its lineage back to Sir Robert Walpole.

After Haileybury David studied Architecture at Bristol University but ‘dropped out’ to seek adventure in India. Back in Bristol he stood in the 1971 city council elections as the first and only candidate for the Bristol Dwarf party on a pro-environment, pro-cycling and anti-car manifesto, also arguing for the legalisation of cannabis. After trying his hand at various trades and ventures, he moved into decorative plastering and founded Hayles & Howe, a Bristol-based company, which went on to have a workshop in Baltimore, USA. Stepping down in 1999 due to illness he soon resumed his eclectic lifestyle, living in New York state with his wife where he built their unique house using old beer cans and tyres, while continuing to teach and undertake plastering restoration jobs. David also wrote two books – The Magic of Scagliola and Confessions of an Ornamental Plasterer.

After surviving throat cancer and the removal of his voice box in 2018, David spent 18 months on a 20,000 mile solo round-the-world bike ride that began in London. He set off again on his bicycle in 2024 from Alaska planning to cycle from top to bottom of the American continent. After three accidents his adventures finally ran out in La Paz, Bolivia, where he died.

Please see more about David and his fascinating life story here: https://thehaileyburysociety.org/2024/05/20/david-hayles-th-60-one-man-a-bicycle/

The Society sends sincere condolences to David’s wife Angelique and his two sons, and to his OH brother Mike and cousin Charles.

With thanks to The Guardian for additional information.