Exhibition celebrates the life of Romany
Tuesday 13th May 2014
An exhibition celebrating the life and works of Romany, the Reverend George Bramwell Evens, opened this week.
Councillor Keith Purdom, Chairman of Wilmslow Town Council, performed the opening ceremony of the exhibition by the Romany Society at Wilmslow Library on Monday, 12th May.
Featuring the life story of former Wilmslow resident, the Reverend G Bramwell Evens, the exhibition focuses on his ministry, his broadcasting as the first BBC radio naturalist, his prolific newspaper journalism, his books, other people's books on him, his paintings and sketches, his charitable works and his talented and famous family members.
Romany and his wife Eunice chose Wilmslow for their retirement home and after his unexpected death in 1943 Eunice had their caravan, a beloved holiday home, brought to Wilmslow and placed opposite their Parkway House. After 5 years of planning and fundraising the Romany Memorial Garden was formally opened and the Vardo was relocated there, where it remained until it was sent to Bradford Industrial Museum in November 2012.
Derick Wood, Romany Society Chairman, has put together the exhibition on Romany, who he considers to be a prominent world pioneer in the communication of natural history, along with Gilbert White and Sir David Attenborough.
Derick said "Wilmslow should be proud of, and recognise, its past resident, Romany, the Reverend George Bramwell Evens (1884-1943), one of the three great pioneers in the communication of natural history. He has influenced several generations of British citizens, which could be why the UK is at the forefront of nature conservation."
He added "With the removal of Romany's Vardo there seems to be a move to use the Romany Memorial Garden for other purposes.
"The exhibition will enable residents and councillors of Wilmslow to see the reasons why and how the Romany Memorial Garden was created and why it should be preserved, as it was intended as a place at the centre of Romany's heritage, so that his teachings could inspire future generations to observe and appreciate nature, to the benefit of the world's ecology.
"A synopsis of his life's writings and preaching can be encapsulated into the reason why the garden was created through public donations 'To allow people to rest and contemplate nature and the hand of God within it'."
The Romany exhibition runs until Saturday 24th May and is located upstairs at Wilmslow library.
The Annual General Meeting of the Romany Society will take place at the Library on Saturday 17th May at 9.30 am for a 10 am start, in the presence of the Mayor of Cheshire East Council, Cllr Wesley Fitzgerald. Residents are very welcome to attend.
For further information call 0161 973 0784.
Photo: Derick Wood Chairman of the Romany Society talking to Keith Purdom Chairman of Wilmslow Town Council at the opening of the Exhibition at Wilmslow Library.
Reverend George Bramwell Evens, Romany, Wilmslow Library
Terry Roeves
Tuesday 13th May 2014 at 4:01 pm
Excellent exhibition. Wouldn't mind seeing Lindow Man back here as well.
Imagine an exhibition centre in Lindow Moss showing us how Lindow Man lived and died. Serious tourist opportunity for Wilmslow.
Also an Alan Turing exhibition would also help put us on the map.
All would contribute to the vibrancy of our town.
Martyn Faulkner
Wednesday 14th May 2014 at 5:12 pm
I agree with Terry that Wilmslow like Stockport should embrace anything that adds to the history of the town for there is surely very little in Wilmslow that they can boast about. This saddens me immensely as whenever I visit the Town where I was born something more has changed and rather than embracing its history which nowadays attract tourists and subsequently money to Towns, it is tearing down and selling off its heritage so much so that I don't recognize it anymore.
Lisa Reeves
Monday 2nd June 2014 at 11:07 am
Derick Wood has continued to add to what's displayed at the Library, and the exhibition is continuing for a further two weeks, thanks to an anonymous donor covering the cost.