In June 1980 when just 10 years old a young boy was taken on board Sealink’s St Columba by the Piermaster at Dun Laoghaire to meet the ship’s Master.  It was a big moment for the boy, who was passionate about ships and the sea, to stand before the Captain of the ship, never before had he seen so many brass buttons and so much gold braid! Apprehensive, the boy dutifully shook hands with the figure of authority greeting him before being shown over the ship.

Twenty five years later I still look to Capt Len Evans, who passed away on July 20 2005, with the same respect and even awe I felt on that distant day. 

Since his retirement in 1986 we remained in contact, even more so after my move to Australia in 2000. At length, we wrote to each other and in fact his last letter arrived just a matter of days before his passing. In it he spoke of that day last February when I was able to introduce him to my wife and children for the first time and of a splendid lunch we enjoyed together at Amlwch. He shared glimpses of his life at sea, and what a life it was.

Starting his seagoing career in 1938 as an apprentice with Blue Funnel Line Len Evans survived the wartime sinking of two ships he was serving on before obtaining his Master’s Ticket with that company in 1948. A few months later he joined British Railways at Holyhead. 

Following service as a deck officer his first command was on the four cargo vessels operating between Holyhead and Dublin. His first passenger command was in 1966 when he became master of the Hibernia, one of the passenger/mail ships on the Holyhead – Dun Laoghaire service. 

In 1976 Capt Evans was appointed Senior Master of the new car ferry then under construction and in April 1977 he commanded the St Columba on her delivery trip from Denmark to the Irish Sea. 

When he retired in 1986 Capt Evans had served over 48 years at sea, 25 of which were in command – making him the most senior master in the Sealink fleet. 

In 1993, to mark 16 years of service on the Mercantile Marine Service Association Council working to expand and improve the warfare facilities for elderly retired seafarers and their partners at the 16 acre Mariners Park complex in Wallasey, Capt Evans was presented with the Nevins and Griffiths Award by the merchant navy officers’ union NUMAST.  

Former colleagues at Holyhead recommended to NUMAST Council that Capt Evans be considered for the award, a move forwarded by Capt Tudor Jones on behalf of active members and seconded by Capt. Glynne Pritchard on behalf or retired members. It was typical of the admiration and respect still held at the port for their former Senior Master seven years after his retirement. 

When we bid each other farewell on that sunny February afternoon I promised to visit him again when next in the UK. I had no reason to believe otherwise. He was still the same Capt Evans who stepped off the St Columba at retirement in 1986!  

His memory will live long in far away Tasmania for his presence greatly influenced my life. 

JM - July 2005