MIKE EVANS 1942-2011
I first
met Mike at Swansea Motor Club, it must have been 1964.
We got on well, mainly due to our interest in vintage
and pre-war sports cars. It wasn’t more than a few
years later when he voiced the opinion that there would
probably be enough interest locally to form an old car
club. That, I’m sure, was the first grain of an idea
that eventually led to the formation of SHVR. It took a
long time to come to fruition, but SHVR came into being
in, if I remember correctly, 1976.
I well
remember a period when Mike regularly drove his Singer
Le Mans to work. Rarely with the hood up: I can see him
now in an old leather motoring coat and equally ancient
leather flying helmet driving to work along Gower Road
on a rainy March morning.
Later
he developed a leaning towards zany t-shirts, the one I
best remember depicted a sheep with incredibly long
legs. The caption read ‘Give me a tall sheep and a star
to steer her by’. That was typical Mike, never a
follower of fashion – he made his own statement.
Mike
was a man of single mindedness and integrity. He didn’t
suffer fools gladly and was never afraid to speak his
mind – even if it didn’t always please everyone.
Once he
had adopted a cause he would pursue it with vigour.
Perfect examples are his adherence to the Singer
marque for almost 50 years, and his tireless work
for The Badger Conservation Trust.
Always
a gentleman, Mike will be sorely missed by his many
friends
Sincere
condolences to his wife Pam, his son Nicolas, daughter
Kathryn and his extended family.
