Mike Evans, who died aged 79 in November last year, was a long-standing member of BASC, serving on its Council and Firearms Advisory Committee for many years, writes BILL HARRIMAN.
Michael Havryn Evans had a lifelong interest in firearms. After taking archaeology and anthropology at Cambridge he joined the Officer Training Corps. After graduating, he joined Rolls Royce in Derby on a management training scheme. He eventually retired as Rolls Royce’s Director of Corporate Heritage in 2000.
When he moved to Derbyshire in 1951, he took up pest control, game shooting and deer stalking as well as being an active target shooter, both with rifles and before 1997, with pistols too. He formed a shooter’s liaison committee with Derbyshire Constabulary to foster better relations between the licensing department and its certificate holders. This was a long time before such groups were widespread and exemplifies his commitment to defending the sport.
As the Chairman of the BASC Firearms Advisory Committee, Mike extended invitations to many diverse people to ensure that my team had the best possible access to wide-ranging advice on anything to do with firearms. Mike took the view that anyone who used a firearm for a lawful purpose was a fellow-traveller who should be welcomed to the table.
BASC is very fortunate to have enjoyed Mike’s unwavering support over so many years. The Association extends its sympathy and condolences to his widow Frances, his son Owen, his daughter Rhiannon and his grandchildren.