David Evans, 16 May 1961-29 March 2018

By Alastair Clements

| 3 Apr 2018

The loss of Classic & Sports Car’s long-serving Chief Sub-Editor last week has been devastating. David left a role as Editor of Test, an electronics testing magazine, to take a job as Sub Editor on his dream title on 27 September 1999, and soon earned the nickname ‘Eeyore’ for his good-natured grumblings in the C&SC office.

Without fail the first in every day, and the last to leave every evening, David quickly made himself an invaluable part of the C&SC family. His memory for past stories was unparalleled, as was his respect and sensitivity towards their writers, and he quietly developed a deep and varied knowledge for the subject that stretched way beyond his own passions for French and German classics. That knowledge and David’s attention to detail have enriched the pages of the magazine, and will be impossible to replace.

David Evans at the NEC Classic Motor Show

David was always in his element at the NEC Classic Motor Show

His trials, tribulations and the seemingly endless mileages covered aboard his own beloved BMW 2002tii and Citroën GSA gave him a voice in the mag that made him a favourite among readers, who followed his success and failures with great interest, but it was David’s work with the various car clubs that will leave the biggest hole. The relationships he struck with their committees, and his dedication to the annual C&SC Club Awards, created not only lifelong friendships, but also helped the magazine to reach out to new audiences and to earn respect from the old guard within the classic community.

David lavished huge care on his beloved Citroën GSA

Above all, David always, always put the magazine first. He loved C&SC, and following the loss of his parents he adopted the team as a surrogate family. Yes, he was grumpy, but he was also kind, thoughtful, generous, dedicated and unwaveringly loyal. These are just some of the phrases that have appeared in the vast number of tributes that have poured in from so many people whose lives David touched, usually through his small kindnesses. I think he would have been overwhelmed to know just how loved he was, and he will be sorely missed by everyone here at C&SC and beyond.