Dave Lewry operated two successful businesses with his wife Kim - Surface Solutions, a metal polishing and engineering enterprise and his main passion, Bygone Bathrooms, specialising in the sale and restoration of antique bathroom ware.
 
In both areas his expertise was greatly valued. He pioneered the polishing of aluminium within the bathroom industry liaising with both foundries and metal finishing suppliers to specify new product and casting techniques.

It is from the antique bathroom sphere that he will most be missed. He rarely missed a fair in the south east of England in the eternal search for that needle in a haystack. His enthusiasm for these original items was infectious and his gushing telephone calls upon unearthing some John Bolding taps or a George Jennings basin are now unfortunately a thing of the past. His understanding of the manufacturing processes and engineering techniques employed by these innovators allowed him an unrivalled ability to restore these antique fittings to perfection.
 
Simon Kirby remembered the superb work Lewry did and the passion he had for the subject and his enthusiasm for old sanitaryware. Kirby described Dave Lewry as a true 'sannorack'.

Dave died suddenly on 31st March 2015 while on holiday in Spain and is survived by his wife Kim, son Sam and daughter Louise.
 
[Obituary - with thanks to contributors Tony O'Donnell of Catchpole & Rye, Simon Kirby of Thomas Crapper, and the Bexhill Observer