Biography

Evelyn Campbell (Jeffrey) was born in Glasgow on 13 June 1922. Her father, Donald Campbell from Cross in Ness, was working as a doctor in Denny, Stirlingshire, at the time. Her mother was Mary MacRae from Portvoller, Lewis. Evelyn had two siblings: a brother, Calum, and a sister, Nanna. When Evelyn was three months old, the family moved to Lewis, where her father had secured a post as a doctor in the Lochs area. They lived first in Keose and later in Leurbost. Evelyn attended Knockiandue Primary School and then the Nicolson Institute.

At the age of fourteen, she went to St Dennis School in Edinburgh. It was there she discovered she had an exceptional singing voice. Although she hoped to become a nurse or attend cookery school, her teachers strongly advised her parents that she should pursue music. Her father was himself a singer and a piper, often performing at ceilidhs. In his youth, before qualifying as a doctor, he had been a member of the Auckland Pipe Band.

Evelyn received musical training from Joyce Fleming and Ruth D'Arcy Thomson, who greatly developed her vocal ability and encouraged her to consider a professional singing career while still in her twenties. In 1948, she moved to London for two years of study and obtained the L.R.A.M. (Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music). Among her teachers there was Elizabeth Schuman. After completing her training, she was invited to join two opera companies – Sadler's Wells and Carl Rosa. After a short period in opera, she realised she preferred concert work and returned to Scotland to focus on that. Her reputation as a singer grew steadily, not only for her Gaelic repertoire but also for her performances in English, German, and French. She became highly sought after across the country.

At a party one evening, she heard a beautiful male voice and later said, "I met his voice, and we got married." The voice belonged to Andrew Jeffrey, who had served with the Gurkhas during the war and later worked in the paper industry in India. They married in 1951 and spent five years in India, where Evelyn continued to sing, performing in Messiah and many classical concerts. After returning to Scotland, they settled in Edinburgh, and Evelyn continued to perform widely. From the mid 1960s, she sang with the Edinburgh Singers alongside Joan MacKenzie [3468], Iona MacDonald [7237], and Mary Sandeman [6773]. Joan was an excellent teacher, and Evelyn credited her and William Matheson[482] as the two people who taught her most about old Gaelic songs. In addition to her stage work, Evelyn made many programmes with the BBC and STV.

In 1970, when the company Andrew worked for closed, he took a job in Algeria, and Evelyn accompanied him for three years. After returning from Algeria, she was invited to sing at London's Albert Hall – a concert she remembered as perhaps the finest night she ever had on stage. Around the same time, she also performed at the Usher Hall, and after two successful nights there, she resolved to stop singing at the height of her ability, which she did. Evelyn and Andrew had one daughter, Susan, who later settled in Madrid. Evelyn spent her winters there.

Evelyn passed away on 11 September 2018.