It is a great pleasure to be here this evening to present a Royal Arch Long Service award to one of the giants of West Wales Freemasonry, Excellent Companion Benjamin Evans.

Ben, you were Initiated into the Shir Gar Lodge no 7339 in Cardiff on the 29th of October 1968. I had just celebrated my third birthday! You were Passed on 29th January 1969 and Raised on 27th June 1969.

You were part of a double Initiation Ceremony which was conducted by your late brother Dan. The other candidate was the well-known Welsh entertainer Ryan Davies who among other things wrote Pan Fo’r Nos Yn Hir.

You were invited to become a member of Narberth Lodge by the late W Bro Mansell Williams, and you became a joining member of the Lodge on 5th November 1976.

Work commitments prevented you from progressing until 1984 when you were appointed and invested as Junior Deacon of Narberth Lodge.

In January 1990 you were Installed as the Worshipful Master of Narberth Lodge by the late Morgan Lewis. After a successful year in the Chair you were elected as the Treasurer of Narberth Lodge, an office which you held for the next 14 years until 2006.

You became a joining member of the Kensington Lodge of Installed Masters at the Installation meeting on 8th March 1991. You have served that very prestigious Lodge as Chaplain, Almoner, Senior Warden and finally as Worshipful Master in 2016.

You were followed as Worshipful Master of Kensington Lodge of Installed Masters by RW Bro Stephen David Hookey who you Installed on Friday 10th March 2017.

You became a very valued Joining Member of Caerfyrddin Lodge on 2nd January 2020.

In the Province of South Wales Western Division, you were first appointed to Provincial Grand Rank in 1998. In 2007 you were appointed to the acting rank of Provincial Senior Grand Warden. A post you filled with distinction.

You were Exalted into the Arberth Chapter no 2001 on 23rd February 1983. Which means you have been a Royal Arch Mason for 42 years. You progressed through the Chapter Offices, finally serving as First Principal in 1996.

You became a Joining Member of the Merlin Chapter no 476 on 28th January 2020.

Ben, in the real world you were born on 12th October 1932. This was an especially turbulent year in the world, but some good things happened too. Forrest Mars produce the first Mars Bar. Great Britain won 4 gold medals at the Summer Olympics, including two in the rowing. George V opened Lambeth Bridge. The BBC moved from Alexandra Palace to Broadcasting House. Edward Elgar celebrated his 75th birthday and John Galsworthy won the Nobel Prize for Literature for the Forsyte Saga. The 25th of December saw the first Christmas Message broadcast from Sandringham by George V. The message was written by Brother Rudyard Kipling.

Professionally, you founded Ben Evans and Son in 1952. A TV and Electrical Wholesaler and Retailer. You finally closed the business in 2016 after trading very successfully for over 60 years.

Ben, you have had a distinguished and successful career in freemasonry, in business and in your community. I am delighted to present you with this certificate and badge as a memento of 40 wonderful years’ service to Royal Arch Masonry. I wish you the health and strength to continue to enjoy RA Masonry for many years to come.

Many Congratulations