text: Evans was a much-loved person, giving freely of his time and his immense knowledge (which was not confined to chemistry) to all who asked for help. He kept a range of exotic pets which he looked after well, e. g.  a Cayman Islands alligator and a five-foot sand snake called George fed with live toads obtained from his local Chelsea pub. George escaped into the King’s Road and was after re-capture given by Evans to the London Zoo. He also kept locusts (some of these escaped too), bird-eating lizards and giant scorpions. He became a celebrated member of the Chelsea Arts Club.