CHAIRMAN'S LOSS AT POIGNANT TIME.

Byline: By CHRIS BECKETT South Wales Echo 

The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society has paid tribute to their late chairman Dr Emrys Evans, as a 'monumental figure of Welsh business and social life'. The former High Sheriff of South Glamorgan died at the age of 80 on the eve of the society's centenary show which was held last week.

Dr Evans, the son of a Welshpool farmer, held nearly 50 senior appointments with institutional and other bodies during a quarter of a century of voluntary service to the community in Wales and beyond.

After joining a bank straight from school, Dr Evans served in the Royal Navy during World War II.

He returned to banking after the war, moving with his wife Mair to Cardiff in 1972.

Mr Meuric Rees, chairman of the Royal Welsh Council, praised Dr Evans' wisdom, determination, humour and tolerance.

Mr Rees said: 'He had the ability and the personality to climb the ladder quickly wherever his interests led'.

Dr Evans worked as Midland Bank's senior executive director for Wales and was a past chair of CBI Wales and the Welsh Committee for Economic and International Affairs.

He also worked for the Development Board for Rural Wales, the Wales Industrial Advisory Board and sat on the boards of several major Welsh universities. In 1981 he received a CBE and just two years later was awarded an honorary doctorate of law from the University of Wales.

He also raised more than pounds 1m for various Welsh charities such as the Children's Hospital for Wales. In 1989 he undertook a 176-mile charity trek along Offa's Dyke and raised pounds 30,000 for Great Ormand Street Hospital and the Welsh Sports Aid Foundation.