Mogg, thank you. You beat me too it ... Dave was a co-founder of this list and also founding editor of the sadly defunct (and missed) Journal for the Academic Study of Magic (JSM). He will leave an important legacy for a number of reasons: For
his historical academic treatises of modern magic, especially "The History of British Magic after Crowley", and his innovative and witty works on Chaos Magick - which were often written under pseudonyms (particularly Francis Breakspear) - of which he was a
leading practitioner. Probably, more importantly, his seemingly boundless energy is the reason that this community of scholars and practitioners exists today. It is easy to say in hindsight that Dave's drive and determination were a product of his long-standing illness
and his desire to 'rage against the dying of the light', but his long-standing and passionate advocacy of the magical as a legitimate area of academic study was to be greatly admired and infectiously inspired anyone who knew him. He made things happen and
brought people together in common cause.
Dave was a complex and quixotic man. He was, by turns, a kind friend, supportive colleague, charismatic raconteur, able collaborator and witty companion. He was also a troubled individual and sometime friends quickly became enemies. Being
Dave's friend could be something of a rollercoaster ride - it could be thrilling with the many ups certainly making up for the occasional downs. It was these contradictions that marked both Dave's life and death. Bravely, in the face of terminal illness, Dave
took one final life-affirming adventure travelling around The Antipodes, witnessing wonder and beauty, before deciding to take his own life in the face of increasing pain and debility. He kept his own counsel on the extent of his incapacity, informing a mere
handful of close friends hours before his death about the seriousness of his conditions and his decision to commit suicide. I was glad to have known him and he will be missed by many. This academic discipline is certainly poorer for his passing.
Dave
Dr Dave Green
Senior Lecturer in Sociology, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
Thanks for letting us know, that is so very sad. I didn't know Dave well but he was someone I respected as a kind, helpful, witty, intelligent and innovative man I thought had so much more to offer the world, and to get from
it.
Melissa.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2013 9:20 AM
Subject: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] Dave Evans
Dear All
In case you've not already heard, the founder(?) of this list and the one time journal JSM just died after a long journey with illness,
here's a post from Al Cummings:
"Today I found out that a good friend of mine - the teacher, writer, and magician, Dave Evans - has died.
Dave had been terminal for some time - something he seems to have kept from the vast majority of people who knew him, myself included. Faced with a choice of debilitating treatments with slim chance of helping in a hospital bed, or going on a massive
adventure round the world seeing beautiful natural wonders, Dave understandably chose the latter.
I met Dave when I first moved to Bristol. A former student of my supervisor - not to mention himself an academic and an occultist - Dave was an incredibly supportive friend to me. He leant me books, introduced me to other lovely fascinating people, put
me up on academic email lists, cooked some amazing curries, and shared some brilliant stories. He helped me publish one of my first articles.
Dave was a passionate, funny, independent, and kind person. He was a good man.
I will be very, very sorry not to hear from him again, but I am very pleased to have known him, and glad he left on his own terms happy with his decisions.
Eleutheria and all that. Free at last.
Take care, mate. xxx
"