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The Mayor for 2008/9 - Councillor Iris Evans

Cllr. Mrs Iris Evans -
748th Mayor of New Sarum - 2008/9

Having been born in Salisbury, in Greencroft Street, I was educated at St Mark's Primary and Junior schools, after which I went to St.Edmund's Secondary Modern school for Girls. Although I was christened at St. Edmund's Church I started going to the Salvation Army Sunday school from the age of four. I loved singing and in time I went into the Songster Brigade and was often seen marching behind the band through the streets of Salisbury and at the open air meetings in the Guildhall Square held every Sunday evening.

Qualifying in shorthand and typing, I left school and my first job was in the office at Wessex Aircraft and Engineering Company at Highpost. I applied for a post at U.K.L.F. at Wilton, I was successful and remained working there until after I was married and my first son Trevor was born, in August 1960. We lived in Germany for a time, after which we returned to England, my husband had been posted to Blandford, and in May 1962 our daughter Virginia was born. It wasn’t long after this that our marriage failed and we separated. I married my second husband Owain in 1973 and we have one son Dean. When Owain came out of the R.A.F. we moved to Wales but were only there for a year when my Mother was poorly and we returned to Salisbury so that I could help look after her when she came home from hospital. At that time we rented a partly furnished house in College Street.

In 1971 we moved into one of the newly built masonettes in Friary Lane. It was during this time that we realised that the drying room was totally inadequate for the amount of families who had to share them. We held a meeting and I was elected by my neighbours to go to the Council and ask them to provide us with an outside space for rotary clothes lines. The Council was most helpful and it wasn’t long before a new drying area was provided. Shortly after this we formed The Friary Tenant's Association, which was only finally disbanded last year. During my time there we made good use of the Community Room, and had the most wonderful community spirit. We fostered five children of ethnic origin and I was a registered childminder. With our own children, those I minded daily and our fostered, some 15 children have passed through our hands.

In 1974 I started nursing, at the Infirmary and then at Odstock Hospital. I then became The Warden for the new Group Dwelling – Crane Lodge in May 1977. There were 22 flats and 26 residents and we held many enjoyable events for them. Xmas was always a wonderful time. Whilst working at Crane Lodge I became Secretary of a fund raising committee which raised several thousands of pounds for a Scanner at Southampton General Hospital.

In 1980 when one of my resident's became very ill, I sat with her during the night and It was during this time that I realised just how much I was missing my nursing. Once again my husband told me to follow my heart. In July 1980 I obtained a full-time post on the Re-Habilitation Unit at Odstock Hospital, where I remained for nearly 7yrs. I then decided to move back to the Infirmary, to Acute Medicine, which was again both challenging and rewarding.

I was then diagnosed with a very serious back problem which eventually ended my Nursing career and rendered me disabled. I became the manageress of the first Cancer Research charity shop which opened in Salisbury (as a volunteer), where I felt I was still doing something worthwhile that would help others.

Since becoming a Councillor in 1999 I have been heavily involved in Housing, the Enviroment, Transport and Education issues. Bemerton is a socially deprived area and the largest ward, in Salisbury District so there are three Councillors to cover the amount of work. I Chair our Residents Association and have with my colleagues, played a large part in the provision of our Neighbourhood Centre and our forth coming Community Centre. I am also a Governor at both Salisbury High School and Woodlands Primary School. In the City I Chair the Taxi Liason Panel, and sit on both the Fairmans Guild and Market Traders Panels, I am also a member of the Tenant Panel.

Most of my life has been spent caring for and about people. I have always done my very best, and having enjoyed it all, I wouldn’t change a thing.