Basil Evans — January 13, 1934 - October 2, 2024

BASIL Edmund Evans was born in Lea Green, London, on January 13, 1934.

He was the son of banker William and Erica and the younger brother of Erica Marie and in 1939, the day before the outbreak of the Second World War, the family moved to Bromley in Kent.

Basil’s lifelong interest in flying and model airplanes stemmed from there as he had ample opportunity to watch the Battle of Britain and the night raids and fires over London in the war years, also finding a shot down German bomber in his road.

He went to Dulwich College and was involved in and eventually ran the school’s air cadet unit. Later, he went to Imperial College where he studied aeronautical engineering. He also joined the university air squadron. The headquarters was just down the road from the college.

There Basil met lifelong friends and was active until the end. He also learned to fly there and flew several types of aircrafts and after university joined the RAF for three years as a pilot and flew Vampire jets, among others. He also won several cups for aerobatics-force landings.

Basil kept up his private pilot licence until his mid-80s flying from White Waltham and Booker but mainly from Gloucestershire airport.

He worked in sales and marketing and ended up as managing director for several Chubb companies, eventually gaining the Queen’s Award for export and achievement. After a short break in the City, he joined Odgers, Ray and Berndtson.

Basil and his wife Torill moved to Henley in 1969 and had two children and later had three grandchildren.

He joined Henley Golf Club in 1970 and over the years was on several committees and became captain in 2004, a role he really enjoyed and took seriously.

He played for several golf societies and was a stickler for golf rules. Later in life, he qualified as a referee and also a referee instructor and built up a team of referees at Henley. He was still teaching until Easter this year.

He was also a member at the then Henley Squash Club, where he made many friends, and ran in several Henley half marathons.

When Basil retired he immediately joined the Henley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society and the Henley Players and was an enthusiastic member. He took part in many musicals and plays over the years, including Oklahoma!, Singing in the Rain and Titanic.

Basil became a trustee of the Kenton Theatre and served for eight years under the chairmanship of Alan Pontin who took part in buying the freehold from the owners, Henley Municipal Charities. He thought that the theatre should belong to the people of Henley and introduced the £1 levy on tickets so a repair fund could build up, which was needed for such an old building. He also introduced several acts to the theatre such as the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and speakers like Peter Alliss.

He enjoyed being a member at Phyllis Court Club and had been on the committee of the Live Jazz and the Aviators Circle interest Group.

Basil sadly died after a short illness on October 2 and he will be greatly missed by his family and friends.