I recently came across a Godfrey Evans book written early in his career which fitted in with the stories my uncle had told me about the early career of Godfrey Evans.
I remember watching Evans “keep” wicket at Canterbury (the English one) in the early fifties when Kent’s star bowler was our next door neighbour Doug (DVP) Wright. Wright jumped the air as he sent down his medium paced leg spin and Evans credits Wright with his being picked for England as he was about the only ’keeper who could read Wright’s bowling.
My uncle told me that he sparred with Evans at the Doddington Boxing Club and Evans had three professional fights, he won all three but in the third his nose was broken. On his return to Kent cricket at Canterbury he explained how he got the broken nose and was told in no uncertain terms that he had to pick his sport and that was the end of his boxing career.
Evans credits his ability to stand up to the lively fast medium paced Alex Bedser to his boxing training and his ability to duck and swerve very quickly as you would if a punch or cricket ball was coming at your face. The late swing Bedser could get accounted for the great Donald Bradman on several occasions.
In the early fifties Evans would line us up for autographs and then run round the outfield at Canterbury. He would eventually stop and sign our autographs books but was always a bit of a prankster.
I met Godfrey in Northamptonshire many years later when I was involved in Geoff Cook’s testimonial year. His sight was not good but his humour was still as sharp as ever.