Graham Evans
DOB 20.6.48
Second Tenor
EARLY INFLUENCES
Graham is Holme Valley born and bred – from a ‘loving modest’ home. He attended Upperthong C of E School and Holmfirth Secondary Modern before leaving aged fifteen years. Music, fell-walking (Brockholes Youth Club), aero-modelling and watching Fartown were early interests. His first Rugby League match was in 1957 – The Yorkshire Cup Final at Headingley against York. He’s supported Rugby League ever since.
CAREER
Success in the City and Guilds Woollen Yarn Manufacture Full Technological Certificate followed a six year apprenticeship in textiles combined with day release part time studies at Huddersfield Technical College (now university). The next forty odd years were spent as a Wool Buyer/Blender/Colourist at once famous, but now defunct, names in the industry, e.g. Joseph Hoyle, C & J Hirst & Son. When Hirst’s closed he became a partner in newly formed C & J Fabrics Ltd which traded reasonably successfully until closure in 1993. Since then Graham has experienced difficult times, including redundancy. With the welfare of family uppermost in his mind, he is unlikely to take early retirement and recent improvements in niche textiles have made him more optimistic about his future working in the industry.
DOMESTICALLY
Married 1976 – Kathryn. 2 children – Caroline and Suzanne – both coming to end of university education. “As a family I think that we are, comparatively, very close.”
MUSIC
The early interest in music began when he lived within earshot of Holmfirth Civic Hall. Here he would lie in bed and listen to the marching bands at the end of the annual brass band contest. A member of the school choir he also participated in school drama groups and Gilbert & Sullivan productions. He fondly recalls the music from the 1950’s radio programmes. Particular favourites were “The Berceuse” from Faure’s ‘Dolly Suite’ that introduced ‘Listen with Mother’ and “Imperial Echoes” and “Out of the Blue” that were associated with radio newsreels and sports reports. Eddy Calvert’s recording of “Cherry Pink” precipitated the purchase of a trumpet and, in the early sixties with like-minded friends from school, he took cornet lessons with Hade Edge Band – a past-time that lasted 25 years.
“I am afraid LSD and Flower Power passed me by!”
THE CHOIR
Since his schooldays Graham has enjoyed singing and performing. Harmonising with others is a great stress buster. He values the diversity of the choir membership and the warm, unforced, non-judgemental welcome that new members receive. “Always bearing in mind that we are an amateur group, I would like the choir to continue as now, to improve singing technique and to carefully consider all aspects of its performance whilst continuing to keep its unique friendliness.”
