Fondly associated with Cleobury Mortimer is Simon Evans, best known for his work in the latter part of his shortish life (1895 -- 1940) as a writer and broadcaster on country-life matters. Born at Hirnant, Powys -- near Lake Vyrnwy -- Evans worked as a postman: natural talent, and a correspondence course in use of English, led to writing / broadcasting. While serving in World War I, he was badly gassed: in the mid-1920s he was able to swap his city residence and postal round, for postman's job in Cleobury Mortimer, with its pure country air. He lived there for the rest of his life.