He was a former chairman of the Welsh Grand Committee and Member of the Speaker's Panel of Chairmen.

[2] He campaigned for a 'No' vote in the 1979 referendum in Wales on the establishment of a Welsh Assembly, along with other members of the 'Gang of Six', Neil Kinnock, Leo Abse, Donald Anderson, Alfred Evans and Ioan Evans.

Davies was Secretary[1] of the now-defunct Tabernacle Chapel, Gowerton,[3] continuing in that role while a Member of Parliament.

[1] In 1950, he married Doreen Griffiths (1925-2018);[1] the couple had two children, Janet and Wyn, Director of Music with New Zealand Opera.

His step-great nephew Huw Irranca-Davies was the MP for Ogmore 2002 to 2016 and has been the Assembly Member for the coterminous seat since 2016.