Richard G.R. Evans

Last updated
Sir

Richard Grenville Russell Evans
RGRE22.jpg
NationalityBritish
Other namesDicky
Citizenship United Kingdom, Kenya
Education King's College London
Website Official website

Sir Richard G.R. Evans KCMG , who also goes by the name Richard "Dicky" Evans, is a British-Kenyan businessperson, sports team owner and philanthropist from the United Kingdom. [1] Evans was born in Penzance and played school rugby for the county before moving to East Africa, where he also represented Kenya in rugby. [1] Charles III knighted Evans in his 2024 New Year Honours ceremony. [2]

Contents

Education

Evans studied civil engineering at King's College London and graduated in 1967. [3]

Career

In 1967 Evans became a consulting engineer for the United Nations and World Bank in Uganda, moving to Kenya in 1971 where he set up a horticultural business, Homegrown Ltd and another, Flamingo Holdings 1983. He went on to establish the Hemingways Collection of hotels in Kenya for which he remains chairman. [4]

In 1977 when managing director of Homegrown Ltd, he was appointed by President Moi of Kenya to be a member of a Presidential Economic Commission. [5]

Evans took control of Penzance & Newlyn RFC in 1995 [6] when the team was competing in the Western county league and struggling with financial problems. The team became the Cornish Pirates under his backing and rose through the National Leagues. [6]

Evans handed over the club to its shareholders and a seven-person board of directors on July 1, 2014. [BeebSport2014] However, he returned to the club in 2016 after it experienced further financial difficulties. [7] Evans bought Truro City F.C. in 2019. [8] The club was promoted to the National League (South) at the end of the 2022/23 season [9] and was sold to a Canadian company at the start of the 2023/24 season. [10]

Honours

On New Year's Day, 2024, Evans was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George, a Knighthood offered to British Citizens for service overseas, in recognition of his services to business, sport and charity in Kenya and Cornwall. [11] [2]

In 2013 Evans was appointed as a Cornish Bard in recognition of his contribution to Cornish culture and given the Cornish name Morlader Pensans, The Pirate of Penzance. [12] In 1996 Evans was awarded the Order of the Grand Warrior. [13]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Dicky Evans: Cornish Pirates owner 'honoured' at knighthood in New Year awards". BBC Sport . 2023-12-30. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  2. 1 2 Ziegler, Martyn (2023-12-29). "Kevin Sinfield and Rob Burrow awarded CBEs in new year honours". The Times . Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  3. "King's alumni honored in King's New Year Honours". King's College London . 2024-01-09. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  4. "Meet The Billionaire Hotelier Behind Hemingways Empire". Business Today. 2023-09-12. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  5. "Vol. CXXI - No. 74 Narobi, 7th June 2019" (PDF). The Kenya Gazette. Republic of Kenya. 2019-06-07. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  6. 1 2 "Cornish Pirates owner Dicky Evans leaves after 20 years". BBC Sport . 2014-06-30. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  7. "Cornish Pirates 'almost went out of business' before new funding - Dicky Evans". BBC Sport . 2016-09-23. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  8. "Cornish Pirates owner Dicky Evans knighted by King Charles". Cornwall live. 2024-01-02. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  9. "Cornish Pirates: Dicky Evans to end funding of Championship club by 2025". BBC Sport . 2022-03-15. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  10. "Cornwall Rugby league owners take over Truro City as club announces return home". ITV (TV Network). 2023-11-30. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  11. "GCMG: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George". gov.uk . 2023-12-29. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  12. "Ancient Penryn site hosts Cornish Gorsedh: PICTURES". The Falmouth Packet . 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  13. "Vol. XCVIII- No. 67" (PDF). The Kenya Gazette. 1996-12-11. Retrieved 2024-03-11.