THE IMPORTANCE of local journalism in holding power to account was one of the topics covered at Vale of Evesham Civic Society (VECS) AGM by its guest speaker on April 14.
After the official business had been conducted, journalist Lise Evans was invited to take the floor at the Ecgwin’s Club to talk about her work at the Evesham Observer.
She cited journalism’s role as a watchdog, asking questions of authority, to ensure an informed public, as one of its key functions.
Lise, who was the recipient of the NCTJ (National Council for the Training of Journalists) Oxford University Press public affairs award in 2025, spoke about the wide variety of reporting in her role, from covering ‘hard’ crime news to championing the efforts of community groups and events like the Battle of Evesham.
Paula Bowden and Lise Evans at Ecgwin’s Club. s
She told the audience of 30 members that she was very grateful to have been assigned Evesham as her news ‘patch’ and had received a very warm welcome from members of the community, some of whom had really gone above and beyond to support her work.
She said what inspired her was a genuine interest in people and the unique characteristics of the area, with a particular fondness for the quirky cultural events such as the St George’s Day asparagus festival launch and wartime in the Vale.
Lise, who worked in communications for 15 years before training to be a journalist, said she was motivated by a desire to make a positive difference in the local community.
In her position as Evesham news reporter, she endeavoured to amplify the positive work of the area’s countless voluntary organisations such as VECS by covering stories that highlighted their efforts.
She said that being a local news reporter was a huge responsibility as well as a tremendous privilege.
Lise Evans talking about her work as an Evesham Observer reporter. s
Paula Bowden, committee member of VECS, said: “We were delighted that Lise agreed to be our guest speaker.
“Her attendance helps to promote closer ties with our civic society and to shine a light on the important role of the local press in reporting and championing local issues.
“Her talk reflected her passion for and commitment to reporting on issues that matter so much to our members, such as the Almonry building, the future of the Riverside shopping centre, as well as activities that bring our town’s rich history to life, like the Battle of Evesham.”
Lise, who trained at the Stratford Herald, also spoke of two stories that would never leave her. She spoke of the tragic events surrounding the death of an Alcester woman, which the coroner ruled was an unlawful killing.
Lise was asked by the woman’s family to attend her inquest, whose death at the hands of her partner was made to look like a suicide, to ensure the truth was reported and widely shared.
A happier recollection was the impact of a feature article following an interview with the sister of the first casualty of the Falklands Conflict, Kim Casey.
Kim, from Stratford, found considerable peace through the telling of her deeply personal story of loss and unresolved grief after the death of her beloved elder brother.
After reading the article in the Stratford Herald, Falklands veteran Graham Cann from Wellesbourne approached Lise to tell his personal story of his experiences of the conflict.
His recollections were developed into a multi-media article which can be read here.
Lise said: “These stories are a testament to the power of local journalism, and a reason why it should be supported.
“Everywhere, there are stories worth telling that are just waiting to be told.”
