Papers of Moss Evans (1925-2002), trade union leader

Scope and Content

Correspondence, 1968-1984; speeches, 1981-1982.

Administrative / Biographical History

Arthur Mostyn 'Moss' Evans was born on 13 July 1925 in Cefncoed, near Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, the son of a miner. He grew up in poverty, as his father was often unemployed. The family moved to Birmingham in 1937. Evans left school at fourteen and went to work in the Joseph Lucas Ltd factory, which made automobile parts. In 1942 the family was bombed out and moved back to Wales, where Evans began working in a munitions factory. In 1947 he returned to Birmingham as a painter and decorator and in 1950 he began working in the Bakelite factory. He joined the Transport and General Workers' Union and became a shop steward. In 1956 he became a full-time officer for the union.

In 1960 Evans was appointed secretary of the No.5 (Midlands) Region Metal and Engineering Trade Group. In 1965 he moved to London as National Officer of the Metal and Engineering National Trade Group, a post he held until 1970. He was then successively National Secretary of the Automotive Industries National Trade Group, 1970-1972, Liaison National Secretary between the Vehicle Building and Automotive and Power and Engineering National Trade Groups, 1972-1973, and National Organiser, 1973-1977. In 1978 he took over from his friend and mentor Jack Jones as General Secretary and held the post until continued ill health forced him to retire in 1985. Retiring to Heacham, Norfolk, where he became a councillor and served as Mayor of King's Lynn, he died on 12 January 2002.

Access Information

Prior written permission to consult unpublished records in this archive is required. Details are given in the full catalogue. Subject to permission being granted, the archive is available to researchers by appointment at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick. See http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/using/

Other Finding Aids

Related Material

See also MSS.126/TG (Transport and General Workers' Union)