Gwilym Thomas Richard Evans, physicist, graduated as Bachelor of Science (BSc) with honours in physics in 1913 at the University College of Wales in Aberystwyth. He was immediately employed as lecturer in physics at the college under H.H. Paine*. Evans came to South Africa in 1920, a few months after Paine, to take up an appointment under the latter as lecturer in physics at the Johannesburg University College (from 1922 the University of the Witwatersrand). He was soon promoted to senior lecturer. At the beginning of 1947 he succeeded Paine* as professor of physics at Wits. Three years later he became dean of the Faculty of Science. At some time he was elected a Fellow of the (British) Institute of Physics.
His research, conducted in collaboration with Paine both in Wales and in South Africa, dealt with electrolytic conductivity and the physical properties of colloidal solutions. In 1914 the two of them published a paper on their research in electrolytic conductivity. Later, in South Africa, they returned to Paine's earlier study of colloids and published a joint paper, "A method of measuring the rate of coagulation of colloidal solutions over wide ranges" (Transactions of the Faraday Society, 1924). A few years later Evans published a paper on "Copper hydrosols of low electrical conductivity" (Ibid, 1928).
Evans and Paine shared a heavy burden of teaching (to science, engineering and medical students) with a devotion that became legendary. Evans was an exceptional lecturer and a good administrator, but his work left little time for research. Outside the university he was active in the Cambrian Society, was a member of the Johannesburg Cathedral Council, served on the governing body of the Forest High School, and was a member of the Advisory Council of the St Peter's Native High School in Rosettenville. During World War I (1914-1918) he served several years in a munitions factory in south Wales; during World War II (1939-1945) he was an officer in the University Training Corps established at Wits. He was survived by his wife, Mary Elizabeth Evans (born Williams), a son and a daughter.
