Coope Boyes & Simpson learned 'Sweet Evalina' for Tim Laycock's adaptation of of Stephen Sydney Reynolds' (1881-1919) novel, 'A Poor Man's House' which was performed at Sidmouth Folk Week around 1993. The novel was published in 1908 and is an account of turn-of-the-century life in the fishing community of Seacombe [Sidmouth]. At one point, a leading character, Tony Widger, sings a fragment of a song: a fragment is sung by

"Sweet Ev-eli-na, sweet Ev-eli-na!
My lo-ove for yu-u
Shall nev-ver, never die...."

Tim Laycock included the whole song, which Coope Boyes & Simpson (in one of their earliest public performances) sang and later recorded.