EVANS, EVAN (1882 - 1965), businessman

Born 8 November 1882 in Glanyrafon, Betws Leucu, Cardiganshire, son of David Evans and Elizabeth (née Davies) his wife. He left Llangeitho school when he was only nine years old. At the age of 15 he went to work in his cousin's dairy in Marylebone with very little knowledge of English, but he attended night school in London to learn the language. By the age of twenty he owned his own dairy and later bought a farm, kept a hotel, had a car sales business and established Evan Evans Tours, Ltd., which had world-wide links. He took an active interest in the public life of the Borough of St. Pancras as a councillor 1922-59 and alderman 1935-45, mayor 1939-41, deputy mayor for five years, and J.P. He worked hard to provide a refuge for those who lost their homes during the air raids in 1940. He was a member of London County Council 1931-34 and was granted the freedom of the City of London in 1946. Elected an alderman in 1932, he served as secretary of Jewin (Presb.) Church from 1938 until his death, and was moderator of the Association in the South, 1961-62. He contributed towards the cost of publishing the book by Tom Beynon on Howel Harris in London. Under the bardic name 'Ifan Gwynfil' he became a member of the Gorsedd of Bards at Swansea national eisteddfod, 1964. On 19 February 1936 he married Nancy Meurig Davies in Jewin Chapel, and they had one son. He died at his home in Guildford Street, 24 July. 1965, and was interred in the graveyard of Gwynfil Chapel, Llangeitho.

Author

• Dr Mary Auronwy James

Sources

• Information from his son, Dafydd Gwyn Evans
• The Biographical Index of W. W. Price, Aberdâr
• See also Camden and St. Pancras Chronicle, 30 July, 1965

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q18922225

Published date: 2001

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