Bob Evans was the Chaplain to the Mersey Mission to Seamen for many years.   He saw many changes during this time as ships and ports changed from relying on masses of cheap labour to the much slicker operations of today.  Bob shared in the laughter and the tears, the joy and the pain of seafarers from all over the world and in doing so amassed story after story worth re-telling.  Since his retirement he has written seven books and is much prized as an after dinner speaker.  As a Canon of Liverpool Anglian Cathedral he still lives a busy life within the Merseyside community and is working on yet more books.

 

 

Dog Collar in the Docks

Mersey Mariners

The Way to Liverpool

The Training Ships of Liverpool

HMS Eaglet

The Indefatigable

The Mersey Mission to Seafarers 1856-2006

 

Titles by Bob Evans

The Way to Liverpool

This book is fun with laughter and tears, wit and wisdom, and tells the true story of life in the valleys of South Wales with magnolia mice and a colliery with no coal to be seen.

From suburban Cardiff to an up-market Cathedral in Landaff, we meet all sorts and conditions of humanity and another mouse.

Then Bob Evans came to Liverpool and this autobiography is about that journey

Price £5.00

Details

• ISBN 978190123144
• Publisher Countyvise
• Genre Non Fiction
• Setting Merseyside
• Extent 159pp

The Mersey Mission to Seafarers 1856 - 2006

Since the early days of Liverpool, the world has come to the Mersey.  Without these seafarers, the truth is that the world would die.  We depend upon them.

This book is about caring, laughter and tears, and the sheer hard graft of looking out for seafarers for one hundred and fifty years.  It is really the story of Merseyside and the care for the seafarer is needed today as much as ever.  The Port is vibrant and carries more trade today than ever in its past history.  We forget that 95% of this nation's trade is carried by sea. 

That is why the Mersey Mission to Seafarers is still needed today.

Price £10.00

Details

• ISBN 9781901231793
• Publisher Countyvise
• Genre Non Fiction
• Setting Merseyside

The Indefatigable

The Founding Fathers of INDEFATIGABLE asked the question "What is to be done about the many orphans whose only crime was that they were sons of seamen?"  So in 1864, the Inde was set up for "the training of orphans and boys in poor circumstances."  That was a typical Liverpool response ... "the Inde Way, get stuck in, and get it done!"  With much change, from ship to shore, the School continued until 1995 with its self-appointed task of "turning boys into men". 

This is a fantastic story.  Bob Evans has added yet another piece into the prouond maritime history of Liverpool.

Price £12.00

Details

• ISBN 1901231534
• Publisher Countyvise
• Genre Non Fiction
• Setting Merseyside
• Extent 237pp

A Dog Collar in the Docks

This book is more than a autobiography.  It is an encounter with almost thirty years of Ships and Seafarers in Liverpool at a time when this great Port was adapting itself to the changes and challenges of the tail end of the Twentieth Century.  The people are real, the pain and the laughter compelling, the story is a good read.

Bob Evans is part of that story.  His ministry in the Mersey Mission to Seamen and the Royal Naval Reserve placed him uniquely into every facet of waterfront life.  His "dog collar" seems to open every door and he, too, is surprised at what happens next.

Price £7.00

Details

• ISBN 0907768768
• Publisher Countyvise
• Genre Non Fiction
• Setting Merseyside
• Extent 219pp

HMS Eaglet: The Story of the Royal Naval Reserves on Merseyside

The Centenary of the Royal Naval Reserves in 2004 is the perfect excuse for a 'jolly'...the saga of HMS Eaglet.  This book is proof that history can be informative, uplifting and full of fun.  The only excuse for the nautical nonsense is that it actually happened.  We travel from sail to steam, the trenches in France to Gallipoli, the Battle of the Atlantic to Iraq...and this is the story of people who were there.  Bob Evans is firmly part of it all and has added yet another interlocking piece to the jigsaw of Liverpool's proud maritime history.  This is the story of the Royal Navy in the Northwest.

Price £12.00

Details

• ISBN 1901231380
• Publisher Countyvise
• Genre Non Fiction
• Setting Merseyside
• Extent 362pp

The Conway Heroes

This book honours the outstanding contribution made by the young men who were trained in HMS CONWAY. It spans the 150 years that have passed since CONWAY was inaugurated. It is written by Old Conways. There are stories of the four Victoria Cross holders, the Albert Medal, the George Cross and George Medal recipients. The memories of countless acts of gallantry across the world are noted. Of special interest are the memories of the Falkland War, written by men who were there. Above all, they pinpoint the task of the Merchant Navy in the conflict and a remarkable story unfolds. HMS CONWAY started its life on the Mersey in 1859 and was finally 'paid off' in 1974 on the Menai Straits ...during its 115 years it is estimated that some 11,000 cadets received their training for a career at sea. The proceeds from this book are dedicated to the CONWAY Chapel in the Scriptorium of Birkenhead Priory.

Price £8.50

Details

• ISBN 9781906823160
• Publisher Countyvise
• Genre Non Fiction

Charlie The Mouse 2

This second book of tails is for children and grandparents, and, I suppose, all those in between.

Charlie the Mouse is generally completely puzzled. And Barney the Dog ...please spell 'dog' backwards ...is rather intelligent. Warning: Only to be read by the young-in-heart.

Price £4.95

Details

• ISBN 9781906205683
• Publisher Countyvise
• Genre Fiction