Country idyll of the postman poet

Autumn sun picks out the church at Cleobury Mortimer, with Titterstone Clee seen in the background.

Country idyll of the postman poet

This was the home of Simon Evans, a postman who was gassed during the First World War and came in search of country air to heal his damaged lungs.

It's said that in 10 years he walked more than 75,000 miles, and in the process became a popular poet, author and broadcaster.

He wrote a total of five books about this beautiful part of Shropshire, offering a realistic depiction of farming life between the wars.

Sadly, he continued to suffer with the lung problems that had beset him since his return from France and he died in 1940, just a day short of his 45th birthday.

Walkers can now follow the Simon Evans Way, which reflects his daily postal round of 16 miles.

:: Cleobury Mortimer appears in our latest book, Shropshire From Dawn To Dusk, available to buy here.

Published by Shropshire and Beyond on

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2024
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2023
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2021
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2020
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2019
End of an era at Ironbridge Sunset picture in national magazine

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