George Bramwell Evens
Encyclopedia
The Rev. George Bramwell Evens (1884- November 20, 1943) was, under the pseudonym Romany (and sometimes The Tramp), a British radio broadcaster and writer on countryside and natural history matters - quite possibly the first to broadcast on such issues. He was also a Minister of the Methodist Church.
He is most famous for his Out With Romany programmes on the BBC
's Children's Hour
, describing travels in his own vardo, with Comma the horse, his spaniel Raq and his young friends Muriel and Doris. Although the programmes were all pre-scripted and performed entirely in the studio, the impression given was of Romany and his friends going for a walk in the countryside and spontaneously discussing the plants and animals they came across.
The vardo is now preserved in Wilmslow
, Cheshire by Macclesfield Borough Council.
As a Methodist minister, his ministries included Goole
; the Methodist Central Hall, Carlisle (1914–26); Huddersfield
(1926–29); and the King Cross Methodist Chapel, Halifax
(1929–39), after which ill health forced him to give up the ministry. He moved to Wilmslow, where he died, leaving his wife, Eunice, son Glyn and daughter, Romany June.
The Romany Society, originally formed in 1943 and re-founded in 1996, celebrates his life and work. Its patron is Terry Waite
.
The BBC radio programmes were all broadcast live, and only one recording survives - dated October 1943, just a month before his death. In November 2006 this was released on CD by Valley Stream Productions.
Biography
His mother was a true Romani, born in a caravan (or 'vardo' in Romani).He is most famous for his Out With Romany programmes on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Children's Hour
Children's Hour
Children's Hour—at first: "The Children's Hour", from a verse by Longfellow—was the name of the BBC's principal recreational service for children during the period when radio dominated broadcasting....
, describing travels in his own vardo, with Comma the horse, his spaniel Raq and his young friends Muriel and Doris. Although the programmes were all pre-scripted and performed entirely in the studio, the impression given was of Romany and his friends going for a walk in the countryside and spontaneously discussing the plants and animals they came across.
The vardo is now preserved in Wilmslow
Wilmslow
-Economy:Wilmslow is well known, like Alderley Edge, for having many famous residents, notably footballers, stars of Coronation Street and rich North West businessmen. The town is part of the so-called Golden Triangle in the north west together with Alderley Edge and Prestbury...
, Cheshire by Macclesfield Borough Council.
As a Methodist minister, his ministries included Goole
Goole
Goole is a town, civil parish and port located approximately inland on the confluence of the rivers Don and Ouse in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England...
; the Methodist Central Hall, Carlisle (1914–26); Huddersfield
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
(1926–29); and the King Cross Methodist Chapel, Halifax
Halifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax is a minster town, within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It has an urban area population of 82,056 in the 2001 Census. It is well-known as a centre of England's woollen manufacture from the 15th century onward, originally dealing through the Halifax Piece...
(1929–39), after which ill health forced him to give up the ministry. He moved to Wilmslow, where he died, leaving his wife, Eunice, son Glyn and daughter, Romany June.
The Romany Society, originally formed in 1943 and re-founded in 1996, celebrates his life and work. Its patron is Terry Waite
Terry Waite
Terry Waite CBE is an English humanitarian and author.Waite was Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie's Assistant for Anglican Communion Affairs in the 1980s. As an envoy for the Church of England, he travelled to Lebanon to try to secure the release of four hostages including journalist John...
.
The BBC radio programmes were all broadcast live, and only one recording survives - dated October 1943, just a month before his death. In November 2006 this was released on CD by Valley Stream Productions.
Original Romany Books
(Credited to G. Bramwell Evens)- A Romany in the Fields (Epworth Press, 1929)
- A Romany and Raq (Epworth Press, 1930)
- A Romany in the Country (Epworth Press, 1932)
- A Romany on the Trail (Epworth Press, 1934)
- Out with Romany (University of London Press (UoL), 1937; illustrations by Reg Gammon and photographs by Romany)
- Out with Romany Again (UoL, 1938; line drawings by Reg Gammon)
- Out with Romany Once More (UoL, 1940)
- Out with Romany by the Sea (UoL, 1941; illustrations by Reg Gammon and photographs by Romany)
- Out with Romany by Meadow and Stream (UoL, 1942)
- Out With Romany by Moor and Dale (UoL, 1944)
- Walks with Romany (E.J. Arnold & Son, undated)
The Romany Readers
Published by the University of London Press in 1951.- Hotchi the Hedgehog
- Smut the Hare
- Flash the Fox
- Spook the Barn-owl
- Pete and Prue the Partridges
- Nick the Weasel
- Billy the Squirrel
- Sleek the Otter
By Romany's son
Written by Romany's son, Glyn K. Evens.- Romany, Muriel & Doris (told by Raq!)
- Romany Turns Detective
- Romany on the Farm
- Romany's Caravan Returns
By Romany's wife
Written by Romany's wife, Eunice Evens.- Through the Years with Romany (UoL, 1946)
By Romany's friend
Written by Romany's friend, H.L. Gee.- The Spirit of Romany (St. Hugh's Press, 1949)
A new Romany Book
Written by Phil Shelley, Publications Officer for the Romany Society, and illustrated by Ray Hollands.- Romany in the Lanes (Lamorna Publications, 2007)