Piloting Hawker Hunter fighters, Canberra bombers, and the fabulously fast Lightning Mach 2 interceptor (operating at twice the speed of sound), during the height of the Cold War, AVM Clive Evans has led a long, exciting, and demanding front-line career at the sharp end in the Royal Air Force. Add a three year posting to the USAF to evaluate the iconic swing wing supersonic fighter bomber, the General Dynamics F-111, and to instruct US pilots in its characteristics, added further lustre to this air warrior’s remarkable history.

Seriously injured in a near fatal car crash just before leaving the USA to return to the UK, with spinal problems ending his fast jet flying, Clive was appointed Project Officer to deliver the new Tornado multi-role aircraft. He then returned to flying by converting to the Hercules heavy transport aircraft, appointed CO of 24 Squadron and then Station Commander of RAF Lyneham, the main transport base supplying our forces during the Falklands War. Clive devised the program aimed at training RAF crews in air-to-air refueling; vital for the enormous distances flown down to the South Atlantic. After victory, and by then an Air Commodore, Clive transferred to Port Stanley as Deputy Commander of all British Forces in the Falkland Islands, and on return to the UK he was appointed as an Air Vice Marshal.

An amazing life full of demanding and enthralling cutting edge challenges, and LMC members are privileged to be able hear Clive tell us after lunch about his exploits and experiences at first hand and to answer our question afterwards.