Farewell to all-rounder

Sep 13 2007 By Tony Deeley, Birmingham Mail

A THANKSGIVING service is being held near Stourbridge today in memory of a top Midland sportsman and RAF pilot who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery during the Second World War.

Ralph Evers, better known as Denis - who died at his home in Devon on Wednesday, August 29, aged 94 - survived three attacks in which his aircraft was shot down.

He played top class cricket and rugby and was West Midlands squash champion for four years.

Born in Pedmore, Mr Evers was educated at the Lickey Hills Prep School and later at Haileybury College where he excelled at games, particularly racquet sports.

After school, he spent two years in Sheffield learning the refractory manufacturing trade and, while working at the Brightside Foundry, played rugby for the Leicester Tigers.

After returning to the Midlands to join the family firm of E.J. & J. Pearson in Brierley Hill, he played rugby for Moseley.

Denis, whose funeral was held on Monday at Torbay Crematorium, won the Worcestershire Squash Racquets Championship once before the war and twice consecutively after the conflict and also played cricket for Worcestershire, captaining the side on five occasions.

During the war he joined the Worcestershire Regiment and later transferred to the RAF.

He flew his Baltimore bomber out to the Far East but after his plane broke down in what was then Persia, he was transferred to North Africa.

As a Squadron Leader, he taught operational flying in Blenheim heavy bombers. He was shot down three times and for his bravery was awarded the D.F.C.

After the war, Denis returned to Pedmore and married Nancy Green with whom he had three daughters - Jane, Elizabeth and Clare.

He moved to Devon in the early 90s to be nearer his daughters.

A thanksgiving service in memory of Denis was being held at 2pm today at Holy Trinity Church in Belbroughton near Stourbridge.