With great sadness, I have to report that Norman Evans passed away
last evening (Sat 22nd Jan).

Norman, who has been my friend and mentor for almost forty years, has
established a reputation throughout the International Mechanical Music
community both for his expertise as a restorer and the warmth and the
generosity of his nature.

He has been very ill for several years and it was characteristic of him
that he took a cheerful delight in the way he has been cheating the
grim reaper time and time again.  He never lost his optimism for
mechanical music, we spoke quite recently and he was enthusiastically
discussing his determination to build a "really good" power supply for
his Violano !.

I'm sure that in due course much will be written about his remarkable
achievements; he has undoubtedly been one of the outstanding characters
or our era.  For the present, however, our thoughts are with his dear
wife, Joyce, and the rest of the family, who have valiantly buoyed him
up thorough his long illness with extraordinary strength and courage.

Richard Stibbons
Cromer, England.