Name Glen Evans | ||
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Thomas Glendwr Gardner "Glen" Evans (22 April 1936 – 24 August 2016) was a New Zealand politician. He served as the mayor of Lower Hutt from 1986 to 1995.
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Early life and family
Born in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England, on 22 April 1936, Evans was the son of New Zealand parents. In the wake of the Great Depression his father, an engineer, had gone to England to find work, and later served in the Colonial Service in Ceylon. Evans was educated at Palmerston North Boys' High School, and went on to study at the University of Otago and Victoria University College, graduating BA, LLB from the latter institution in 1962. In 1959 Evans married Barbara Cunningham, and the couple went on to have three sons. Evans practised as a lawyer until 1986.
Political career
Evans was elected to the Lower Hutt City Council in 1974, serving one three-year term. In 1986 he was elected mayor of Lower Hutt, following the retirement of John Kennedy-Good. He was an elected member of the Greater Wellington Regional Council for 12 years, and also served on the Stokes Valley Licensing Trust. His legacy achievements include flood protection schemes, the replacement of the Ewen Bridge, the ring-road system and the revitalisation of Jackson Street, Petone. During his mayoral term he oversaw the amalgamation of Lower Hutt with Eastbourne, Petone and Wainuiomata, to form the Hutt City Council in 1989. In the 1990s he faced controversy over the escalating cost of the Queen's Drive car-parking building.
After serving three terms as mayor, Evans did not seek re-election in 1995.
Later life and death
In later life, Evans was afflicted by Alzheimer's disease. He died in Wellington on 24 August 2016.
Honours
In 1990 Evans was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal. He was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services in the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours.