::: Nick Evans :::

Dear Friends, It is my very sad duty to have to inform you of the death of Nick Evans. Nick wasn’t generally known to most of you but many of you will remember his name from various pieces that have appeared in the newsletters and occasionally on the web site.

Nick was a fine musician guitar player and singer/songwriter and after a career as a councillor, worked with Jeff Horne as a publisher for Heartland Publishing. Heartland mainly published books about music and musicians and put out both volumes of my autobiographical accounts of my early years, “ Angel laughter” and “Summer Lightning”.

During the course of preparation and editing of these volumes, a friendship developed between Nick and I that was very special. Because Nick had such an intimate knowledge of my music, Nick knew my work from the time he was at school. In fact, he and his friend Rob Naylor managed to get me a gig there in the early seventies when he was about sixteen years old. I was honoured that he included many of my songs in his repertoire. Consequently, there was a great understanding between us from the very beginning. I felt able to ask advice and to discuss many of the more sensitive issues which were unearthed in my investigation into my growing up. I was able to confide in Nick in a way usually reserved for old friends, which is how I came to view our relationship. Once the books had been published we travelled to bookstores together where Nick had arranged readings to promote Angel Laughter. These trips were very enjoyable for all of us but I doubt if I would have undertaken them without Nick’s gentle coaching and coaxing. We even played a couple of concerts together. One in Guildford and the other in Nick’s home territory of Fishguard. Part of the success of the evening must have been down to Nick and his constant promotion of my songs on his various gigs in the area!

When I conceived the idea of Time’s Poems (Nick came up with the title just as he did with the biographies), it was Nick’s enthusiasm that fired up the plan and moved it along. At every stage of development he was involved. From selection of type face to the texture of the paper, from index to lay out, and in every discussion with Peter Thaine the illustrator to subject matter for the elegant drawings.
Our conversations were on an almost daily basis. I relied upon his professional advice and his sensitivity to the subject matter. Nick went through all the material and dotted the I’s and crossed the ts. He double and treble checked the layout of the lyrics. After many proof readings he was still switching apostrophes and commas right up to the production deadline.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the book was delayed at the printing stage and sadly Nick never got to see the final product. However Nick’s wife Sally made sure a copy of the book accompanied him on his final journey. I shall miss Nick for his great attitude, his enthusiasm, his confidentiality, his terrific sense of humour and his courage during the various set backs with his health, but mostly the way any one would miss an old and treasured friend. Nick’s memorial will be the love and admiration of his fans, friends and family and I am proud to include Time’s Poems as part of that.