AS well as being a great photographer, a fine businessman, a wit and generous individual, it is impossible to underestimate the contribution of Derek Evans, whose obituary was published on May 5, to the cause of Liberalism in Herefordshire.
Parliamentary candidates would come and go, councillors win and lose, activists would help and leave, but Derek was always there. He was the one person who linked the last Liberal MP for Hereford, Frank Owen (1929 - 1931) and myself. Although Derek did not see Frank win, the one abiding memory of my victory in 1997 will always be Derek hugging David Short at the declaration in the Shire Hall – they were both crying their eyes out with joy. During the dark days of the 1950s and 1960s, Derek was one of that small band of supporters who kept the flame of Liberalism alive.
It is only fitting that at his death Hereford had been represented by a Liberal in Parliament for more than a decade. Derek’s part in that achievement is surpassed by noone and I, my party and this county can be rightly proud of him.
PAUL KEETCH, MP for Hereford.
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