BOOM CONCRETE PUMP

1804. THE GORDON EVANS STORY - CONCLUSION.

CPO Gordon Evans left the Royal Navy in 1955 as an Air Articier Second Class [ his decision not to sign on for another 10 years had denied him 'a 'First Class' rating.

Gordon returned to his old home town area of Chatham, with his wife Sylvia and a young family of daughters [three eventually]. Gordon had been half-way across the word with the Navy - Ceylon, India, Australia and New Zealand, and points between. But it was in the year of his discharge, aged 30, Gordon saw the great city of London, less than 30 miles from his hometown, for the very first time. He and the family, he says, were 'goggle-eyed 'like American tourists.'

Gordon was working for a milling company, CAV Ltd at Rochester, eventually as a bench instructor in the firm's Engineering School. Becoming a little concerned about the future prospects for his children in the gloom of postwar Britain.
in 1961 Gordon and his family migrated to New Zealand where he was to take up
position with Tasman Empire Airways Ltd [TEAL], but found that they would not start him immediately, because his artificer's tools [six box crates] were still coming by ship.

A walk along the waterfront in Auckland brought him alternative position on the same morning that this news was delivered. Passing a shipping repair firm Gordon paused to look at an ancient piece of machinery, of a kind that he's once worked upon, and the boss came out to chat. No-one could get it working, he said. Gordon said he could - and he had a job immediately! -

In 1963, the family emigrated again to Australia where Gordon set up a new Engineering School for Apprentices and Tool Setters for Lucas Ltd in Melbourne. He worked there until the firm closed in 1980, and went on to turn his hand to gardening. From his home in Frankston, he has worked as a gardener and turned his artificers skills to many odd jobs in the area.

In his little spare time, he spent 29 years patiently re-building a marvelous 1929 American R.E.O 'Flying Cloud' sports sedan which is sometimes used for wedding receptions in the area, and which he takes on vintage car rallies.

Among other interests he became a a founder and secretary of the Amateur Winemaking Guild for 29 years, and was also a long time secretary of the HMAS Sydney Association, which eventually merged with the Vietnam Logistic Support Veteran's Association, which is from the carrier's fast troop transport years. His daughters gained university educations and became professionals. Sylvia began an Arts degree at 65 and completed it, something Gordon feels could never have been done back in Britain.

This photograph also appears in the RAN Sea Power Australia Centre's website page for 805 Squadron RAN.

A tangibly English man in manner, still only 85 years old now, quite late in life Gordon astounded his daughters by a resolute decision to take out Australian citizenship.

Gordon and Sylvia Evans have lived at their home in Frankston for 45 years.

Mr Evans has been enormously generous in making his photo albums available for this Unofficial RAN Centenary 1911-2011 Photostream. Approached within one day, he allowed albums which also contained precious family photos to be taken away on trust, and I spoent the afternoon with him, returning them yesterday. I would be glad if anyone else who has also enjoyed them might let him know that here.

1928 CAV four valve TRF receiver originally designed to work on LT accumulators and a HT battery.

CAV founded by Charles Anthony Vandewell later to merge with Lucas and more noted for commercial vehicle electrical & diesel fuel injection equipment.