Out with Romany at Wilmslow Library

George Bramwell Evens (1884-1943), known as ‘Romany’, was Britain’s first broadcasting naturalist. A Methodist minister living in Wilmslow, he presented ‘Out with Romany’ on BBC Radio Children's Hour in the 1930s and 1940s which described his travels in the countryside with horse Comma, dog Raq and companions Muriel and Doris. Among his 13 million listeners were future naturalists David Attenborough and David Bellamy.

Romany's gypsy caravan, sited opposite Wilmslow Library

Stones dedicated to Romany and his dog Raq
in the memorial garden close to his vardo

A popular and prolific author, Romany also wrote a number of wildlife books and nature stories for children and a fantastic collection of these are kept in the Reference section at Wilmslow Library. Copies of the ‘Romany Magazine’ produced by the Romany Society, an active local group whose patron is Terry Waite, are also held here.



Books from the collection: top large print published 2002 by Isis

bottom published 1942 (third edition) University of London Press

Thank you to Wilmslow Library, for this first contribution highlighting special collections held at reference libraries across Cheshire.