George Evans, an obituary

When George Evans died it lost  one of its most staunch friends and one of its most able defenders.

However, George Evans' legacy will live on for many years to come. And not only in Wellington, for his influence reached beyond the boundaries of Wellington to other towns, villages and communities looked upon by the ever-watchful Wrekin Hill, so beloved by George.

George Evans successfully campaigned to have town and parish council launched within the boundaries of the then Wrekin District Council. Of course he wanted Wellington to have its own Town Council, but he was equally passionate that the other old and established and more recently created communities of the area should have their own parish and town councils.

In fact it is safe to say that without the sterling work of George Evans amongst others there would be no Wellington Town Council, no Hadley and Leegomery Parish Council, no Madeley Town Council, no Dawley Hamlets Parish Council, no Oakengates Town Council, etc.

George Evans was also very keen on promoting the history of not only Wellington but of its neighbouring areas. He wrote extensively not only about Wellington but of Shropshire and its interesting towns and villages. 

He published a great many books, many on Wellington and further afield and his knowledge of geology, especially of the Wrekin, The Ercall and Maddocks Hill was second to none. 

Another crowning achievement of George Evans was the launch of the Wellington Civic Society. With George at the helm as founding chairman and subsequently as Life President, the Wellington Civic Society brought gentle but highly persuasive pressure on Wellington Town Council and Wrekin District Council latterly Telford and Wrekin Borough Council to make sure that Wellington had proper representation. He also addressed planning enquiries where his knowledge of town planning issues and law was put to good use, sometimes to the obvious consternation of officials who found in George Evans a polite but worthy opponent.  

I first met George Evans when I was 11 years old, 52 years ago when I took his induction test when I began my education at the Wellington Secondary Modern School for Boys in Orleton Lane.

George Evans also taught me geography and I always found him to be an engaging and exceptionally gifted geography teacher. George made the subject come alive and he shared his enthusiasm with the entire class.

I remember with great fondness his Explorer Club with lessons that covered camping and survival techniques, map reading and orienteering within Wellington. 

George Evans will be missed, but his influence will live on for decades to come.