The non-existence of Romany's vardo, Wilmslow, Cheshire

I normally by-pass Wilmslow, although we had occasion to re-visit it and see the full extent of the council-approved vandalism: Romany's vardo, or caravan, is no longer in Wilmslow, but has been removed to Bradford Industrial Museum, where it is of course, ahem, safer. This is a complete idiocy because Romany's vardo was a major highlight in Wilmslow, and is now just a circus exhibit in Bradford: which makes me think that George Osborne would be far better placed in an industrial museum.

Other relevant posts:

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Romany's Vardo at Wilmslow
Romany's Caravan Goes to Bradford

Romany's Vardo, Wilmslow, Cheshire

In April 2010 I made a post about the vardo in Wilmslow that belonged to the broadcaster and writer George Bramwell Evens, aka Romany. Now Dave Cash tells me about some very negative developments. It's unfortunate that I can't link a video clip, which includes Councillor Ron Menlove talking – but not out of his mouth. I'll let Dave tell the tale here:

'In December 2011, Romany’s caravan was sent to North Wales for professional restoration by Valley Stream, at Romany Society expense, after a lifetime exposed to the elements. A pre-restoration examination revealed the caravan was generally in good condition for its age but did detail some concerns, particularly to the chassis springs, due to its immobility. And exposure to the elements. The restorer recommenced the provision of a weather-proof shelter and it is the cost of this shelter which appears to have persuaded Cheshire East Council (CEC) to dispose of the caravan at this time.

Rev Bramwell Evens (Romany) bought this road-menders living van second-hand in 1921 and undertook DIY repairs with his wife, Eunice, as detailed in her book Through the years with Romany. Since she donated the caravan to the Romany Memorial Committee of Wilmslow UDC c1948, it is evident from a recent Freedom Of Information request to CEC that no subsequent local Authority had a reserved budget for its maintenance, despite family expectations that the caravan would be maintained after handover.

It appears Macclesfield Borough Council did undertake some essential DIY local repairs as late as 1992.

Since CEC's inception, it has only spent £130 on a post-restoration visit to the restorers in North Wales despite the £7,000 restoration being paid for by the Romany Society.

Rod Menlove, CEC Councillor for Wilmslow and CEC Environment cabinet, responsible for Parks and Leisure, is on record for suggesting Romany’s caravan, whilst of national importance, is only 75% original, thus reducing its heritage value. Little does he realize that every cell in his body has been replaced, probably several times, during his life!

Others have suggested that original replacement with modern restoration materials, as per recent Cutty Sark restoration dilutes historic importance/value.

We suggest Romany’s caravan is only the physical focus for the man’s passion. It provided background for his studio-based natural history broadcasts and source material for his influential books.

Visitors to a recent popular Saturday Wilmslow market were asked:

Should the Vardo remain in Wilmslow (Yes/No)

Is it a Visitor Asset (Yes/No)

Who should have future responsibility for it? CEC, Wilmslow Town Council (WTC), The Romany Society, or other (eg Bradford)

373 members of the Public responded to the research questionnaire (100%)

233 responders are Wilmslow (SK9) residents (63%)

120 live within approx 20 miles of Wilmslow (32%)

20 visitors live further afield, i.e. Stoke on Trent, Aberdeen or overseas (5%)

369 agreed the Vardo should remain in Wilmslow (98%)

363 regard it as a Wilmslow asset (97%)

As for future responsibility for the Vardo:

27 suggest it should remain CEC (7%)

200 suggest WTC (54%)

58 suggest the Romany Society regains control (15%)

ZERO persons thought Other, eg Bradford museum (0%)

This survey is on-going in some Wilmslow shops etc, in an attempt to achieve 1000+ responders.

A weather-proof diplay shelter for the Vardo would cost approximately £25,000 installed, obviously a cost concern for CEC & WTC, although neither has considered approaching Lottery Heritage Fund or other sponsors since deciding to find a new owner.

The grandson of "Romany" would be happy for the Vardo to stay on display in Wilmslow, if suitable shelter can be provided.

The Romany Society is yet to ballot its members on their preferred location as the Committee is split 3-4.

Readers can contribute to a "Keep the Vardo in Wilmslow" fund, solely for office/admin costs at this stage. Account details are:

Sort Code 57 13 27. Britannia Bank Account Number 00 00 00 00. Account Number 357 688 145.'

Below is a link to my earlier blog post, with the vardo in its appropriate position.

ADDENDUM: Dave Cash sends me a link ('Romany's Caravan Goes to Bradford') that confirms that Wilmslow has now lost the vardo that stood in the Memorial Gardens very near the centre of the town for well over sixty years and was a colourful reminder of the town's history. In a local questionnaire, an overwhelming majority of almost exclusively local people chose to retain the vardo in Wilmslow, and not a single person wanted it in Bradford. Nevertheless the vardo has now been pensioned off to Bradford Industrial Museum, where it will be just another display, in a place that as far as I know has no link to the vardo's history. It appears that Rod Menlove of CEC is the main perpetrator of this madness, and yesterday CEC sent out a press release crowing 'Romany Vardo Saved'. Don't believe the hype: Cheshire East Council just threw an important part of its history out the window.

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Romany's Vardo at Wilmslow
Romany's Caravan Goes to Bradford

George Bramwell Evens, aka Romany, and the Wilmslow vardo, Cheshire, UK

'Romany' was the familiar name for the Methodist Reverend George Bramwell Evens (1884-1943), who wrote many books and newspaper articles on natural history, and who became well known in the 1930s and 1940s for his 'Out With Romany' BBC radio programs on Children's Hour.

His mother Tilly Smith was a gypsy, and Romany said in his book A Romany and Raq (1930), the latter being the name of his dog:

'I do not remember a time when the countryside had no fascination for me. Give me a lane and a hedge, and heaven lies in exploring its shadows and becoming intimate with its shy inhabitants. Probably this is due to the fact that I spring from pure gipsy stock. In my veins runs the blood of nomads who have sought the solitudes for hundreds of centuries. It is this ancestry which has made me a roamer, and like a bird hearing a migratory call, so the fields and the woods lure me from city life.'

On Romany's death, the BBC didn't play any 'funereal' music because they thought he wouldn't approve, but played Delius's 'Rhapsody on Hearing the First Cuckoo of Spring', adding to its young listeners 'Perhaps you would like to imagine you are out with Romany once again as you listen to it.'

At Romany's memorial service, his friend Geoffrey Dearmer read a poem dedicated to him, which is reproduced on the interpretation plaque near the preserved vardo close to the center of Wilmslow, Cheshire. I trust that no one will have any reason to object to my reproducing it here, as I find it such a moving tribute:

'Farewell to Romany

Goodbye, dear friend. If we no more shall roam
Fresh woods with you, nor fields your voice made cool;
Nor find the fieldmouse in his harvest home,
The brown trout in the pool;

Nor with hands made more gentle at your words
Pick up the shrew mouse or the trembling hare;
Nor, with ears wiser, name the singing birds
In trees no longer bare.

If we no more with you shall do these things
Let us, at least, say sometimes when the clear
Spring skies are full of song and woods with wings,
"I wish that he was here."

Then shall we keep our memory green and true;
Then shall the lovely world more lovely grow,
And you, dear Romany, I think that you
Would wish to have it so.'

Through the Years With Romany was published by Eunice Evens three years after the death of her husband at the age of 59, and in this book she describes Romany's, or rather Bram's, purchase of the vardo in 1921, of their using it for vacations in Yorkshire, Cumberland, and Westmorland, and of Bram's and her own slight ineptitude in repairing and generally restoring the vardo, but love shines through everything she writes about their arduous work together on it.

The Evens family moved to Wilmslow immediately before World War II, and to a certain extent Romany's studio-broadcast (but realistically sounding) nature walks provided an antidote to the horrific events of the day. In his radio programs, Romany's supposedly young friends, acted by Muriel Levy and Doris Gambell, not forgetting Raq and his horse Comma, all featured. Romany was in the vanguard of natural history broadcasts, and can be seen as the precursor of the likes of David Attenboborough and David Bellamy. The preservation of the vardo is a glorious memorial to George Bramwell Evens, and includes a headstone to mark the spot where Raq was buried.

For unfortunate (and somewhat crazy) later developments, see the link below:

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The Vardo's later history