Local Face: Graham Evans

from Wendover News, March 2021

Tribute: Colin Plant

Graham was born in Stalybridge, Manchester. and spent the 1960s as a professional drummer with his band ‘The Big Sound’ in the UK, Germany, Denmark and Israel. The well-known bands & artists he toured with included Jimi Hendrix, The Small Faces, The

Yardbirds & Georgie Fame, playing at some of the worlds most iconic venues including the Cavern Club and the Star Club. At the end of the band’s last European tour Graham returned to the northern cabaret circuit, playing in the house band for entertainers such as Cannon & Ball, Little & Large and Bernard Manning.

Graham arrived here on on his 22nd birthday, Sunday 10 August 1969. He decided to have a career change. It could not have been more different from his days with the band. Staying with his brother and sister-in-law in Icknield Close, Wendover, he got a job as a van salesman at Brazils of Amersham, became Bowyers. He very quickly learnt his way around the Chilterns on his van route. He was promoted to supervisor and later to area manager. In 1976 he joined Stevens of Prestwood (became Farmer Giles Foods) as Sales Manager. Graham then rose to Sales Director for Sonny’s American Cheesecakes & S Baron Ltd one of the oldest Smoked Salmon companies in the country, based in the East End of London. In 1991 he started up his own company Chiltern Salads Ltd. Employing over 20 full time staff, the business ran successfully for 21 years.

In 1987 the death of his father from a heart related illness prompted Graham to pick up his drumsticks again and do a charity gig at the Wendover Memorial Hall for the British Heart Foundation celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of the Beatles single ‘Love Me Do’. The Wendover Beatles were born with his long-time friend John Hinton on bass and support from old friends Christopher Pallet and Andrew Gardner who advertised in their shop windows, even putting a jukebox in Andrew Gardner’s window. In 2012 The Wendover Beatles returned to the Memorial Hall to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ‘Love Me Do’. Graham has organised many other shows to help raise money for various local charities with his bands The Graham Evans All Stars, China Rose & The Duvets.

He married his long-term partner Lisa in 1990 at Stocks Country Club in Aldbury. Lisa was born in Sidney Terrace, Wendover and is very much a local girl with her family history in Wendover dating back over 4 generations. Lisa & Graham have two children Joe & Carmel, now 5th generation. Joe, Carmel and Carmel’s husband Harry still live in Wendover.

Graham founded the popular ‘Red Lion Sporting Association’ and hosted guest speakers such as Sir Stanley Matthews, Alan Lamb, Emlyn Hughes, Tommy Docherty and many more raising well needed money for local & national charities. In 2004 whilst having a drink in the Shoulder of Mutton he came up with the idea along with the then manager Keith for the ‘Party in the Garden’. Graham had always wanted to organise an outside event and here was the perfect venue in the heart of the village. He arranged all the music and staging for the next four years when his long-time friend and fellow musician Barry Evans carried on the tradition very successfully. All profits have gone to local charities including ‘Friends of Wendover Health Centre’ & ‘Ian Rennie Hospice at Home’ (now Rennie Grove).

After running a successful business for 21 years Graham decided it was time to retire and get back to his beloved music. With the revival of vinyl, he is doing his music in a different way, Graham now deals in records, buying and selling online, and is a regular contributor to online music blogs, whilst Lisa runs her own garden design business ‘The Beehive Garden Design’.