Michael Evans QC (HB and Governor)

MICHAEL EVANS     17-3-2023

Perhaps the one thing I might have in common with everybody here, certainly those over a certain age, is never forgetting my first great love. Nobody ever forgets that; the excitement, the wonder, the unconditional love that never dims. Lest my wife is thinking what on earth did I have for breakfast, I am saying that because exactly the same experience is shared by Headteachers  who overwhelmingly liken their first headship to that great first romance. Nothing compares.

I felt and feel exactly like that about my time at Christ College Brecon, or CCB. Where else would one find , at the risk of embarrassing Zoe and Tom, the best pupils in the world and a community, teaching staff, support staff and governors who, I always felt, asked for nothing and gave everything to the well-being,  mutual support and the sheer pride that was part of being at the school. I claim no credit for any of it. It was just there and I was glad to drink from the same well, often wondering how the school inspired such love and loyalty.

Part of the answer lies in previous chairmen of governors and certainly the three chairmen of governors I served.

The first a previous headmaster of the school, was terrifyingly able, awesomely experienced and outwardly formidable yet, once got to know him, deeply in love with the school and in many ways a big softie……though I’d never have dared say that to him.  He held my hand through all the early innocence of that first educational romance.

My third Chairman was a former pupil come university professor and vice-chancellor, held in awe by his school contemporaries and most people who knew him. We came from villages not far from each other in West wales, so our feet stood firmly on the same bit of ground and our telepathic non-verbal communication most useful. CCB ran through him like a stick of rock.  Again, so intellectually able, such a compelling orator and ultimately a close friend.

In between was my second chairman, Michael, so wasn’t I a lucky chap to have worked with Michael to complete such a triumvirate. And, I have to say, with Michael it was the best “Buy one get one free” deal ever, because if one had Michael one had Val as well. The support they gave to Jane and me personally, as well as to the school, was truly humbling.

Three chairman giants, men so different and so generous with adamantine principle in common; I loved them all…..but what of Michael?

Before Michael became chairman we had had usual governor/Head dealings with each other, but both of us knew the relationship was now going to change and would be fundamental to the well-being of the school. So, we met for a chat, just the two of us, and what we agreed we never felt the need to change.

First, we told each other the unvarnished truth, warts and all. Michael would know all my concerns about everything and everybody, all issues, plans, ideas,  informally, long before they ever appeared on an agenda. Many never did.  We agreed “no surprises” for either of us. We went through meeting agendas days beforehand to get a feel of where we wanted to end up. Perhaps that was not democratic, but our school meetings became shorter. I was always impressed by how intently he listened, how generous he was with his wisdom and how unwavering in his understanding of human frailities and kindness in response.  I don’t think we ever came anywhere near falling out.

Whatever words I use about Michael….discretion, dedication, selflessness, wisdom , warmth….. I keep coming back to  PEOPLE and his KINDNESS. He took a truly genuine interest in every member of the school diaspora. He would talk to anyone and I know the staff found him very accessible. For some Heads that would have meant instant paranoia, but he was not one for gossip. Just occasionally if at a meeting there was some sort of cheap shot, something both of us abhorred, or something said unfairly, then Michael would remonstrate immediately. It did not happen often, but when Michael’s voice switched to what I used think of as sentencing mode, one could sense room temperature falling very quickly, usually followed by some reflective quiet before he got us back on track.

It was easy to suggest to Michael and Val that they would be welcome to drop in to school at any time and, no, we didn’t need to know. That, I can promise you, is quite rare in many schools. As a result we saw a lot of them and saw grow their love of the place. There were very, very few school concerts, plays, matches, competitions, major services that they missed, if ever. [Neath?]

I want to finish by celebrating an integral part of Michael’s character….his sense of humour, his wicked sense of humour. One only has to look at the photograph at the back of the service sheet to get an inkling of what his company could be like. Here are a couple of examples from myriads……….

Phil Jones (HM, 96-07)