Mr. W.H. EVANS

Left Stockton-on-Tees, England to set-up a new life in Australia. Landed Adelaide and made our way to Port Pirie, SA. Worked for BHAS. Got active in local cubs and scout movement Wife Sheila became Akela to cubs and I was local scoutmaster. With a new job offer, moved family to Christies Beach, SA. Great life literally a few streets from the beach. After a while, a new job moved the family to Salisbury, Brisbane. Again, very active with scouting movement. Eventually, feeling homesick, we uprooted and decided to move back to England. 1965 saw us take the overnight train to Sydney and boarded the Chandris Lines ship, RHMS Ellenis. Knew we had made a grave mistake while crossing the North Atlantic in mid winter. Moved back to Stockton and stayed in Egglescliffe. Needed to get away from the misery of England again, had got too used to the warmth and lifestyle of Australia. Tossed a coin and Canada lost out to South Africa. Midway through 1966 we were living in Johannesburg. Took up scouting duties gain as a family, commuting to Honeydew most weekends for activities.. Buying our first house, moved to Boksburg. Children all moved through High School. Eldest son Michael left High school early to pursue an apprenticeship in the print trade, Middle son Howard, by this time a drummer, worked for Barclays bank in Benoni during the day and drummed in Jo'burg's top nightclubs in the evenings. Howard left SA in 1978 to pursue a career in music in London, England. Eventually met his partner, Valerie in 1989, and they remain together. Daughter Barbara left college and met her future husband and left the family home. Wife and I moved to a new house in Freeway park, Boksburg, then onto another house in Honeydew, Randburg, before son Michael convinced us to move closer to him in East London. Lived there for many years before I died with dementia. Wife Sheila succumbed to cancer shortly after. Sadly eldest son Michael took his own life a few years later. Daughter Barbara and husband Bernie, had 3 sons, who grew up in the Jo'burg suburbs. The 2 youngest eventually emigrated to Australia to start new lives. Both Barbara, Bernie and eldest son and his family eventually all moved back to England a few years before COVID 19 befell the world