Subject

Chairman of National Provident Institution in 1959. Andrew Behan has researched this man:

Lawrence Emlyn Douglas Bevan C.B.E., was born on 7 January 1903 in Somerville, Fayette County, Tennessee, USA, the son of Herbert Spencer Bevan, who was British, and Jennie D. Bevan nèe Williams, who was an American. His mother died in late 1904 and he came to England. On the 1911 census he is shown as living at 67 Earls Court Square, Earls Court, with his grandmother, Eliza Bevan, nèe Lofft and three of her unmarried daughters, (his aunts), Mary Constance Bevan, Ellen Sylvia Bevan, Mabel Frederica Bevan, together with a Swiss governess and four other servants. His father died in America in 1916. His grandmother died in 1920 and the electoral register for 1924 shows him living with three aunts, Ellen Sylvia Bevan, Mabel Frederica Bevan and Rachael Evelyn Bevan at 30 Palace Gardens Terrace, Kensington. The last of these aunts died in 1937 and Kelly's London Directory and electoral registers from 1936 show that he was living at 4 Montague Place, London, W.1.

The 1939 England and Wales Register shows him there, giving his occupation as a Bank Director. It also records him as 'O.E.R. Scots Guards', which I assume means Officer Evaluation Report, as the London Gazette of 2 July 1940 records him as having been appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in the Scots Guards with effect from 1 June 1940. Electoral registers from 1948 to 1957 show him living at Flat H, 71 Park Street, London, W.1.

Troston Village states that he was regarded as the last of the Lofft family line associated with Troston, a small village near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, who was renowned for his charitable work and generosity to villagers who had fallen on hard times. He waived rents on property he owned and provided modest pensions. He was noted for his reserved nature and prudent approach to investment and over the years he progressed to become the chairman of the National Provident Institution, a financial enterprise with Quaker roots. He proceeded to buy back some of the family estate when it came up for sale.

He lived most of his time in London but spent many weekends in Troston Cottage with his chauffeur. Daimler gives details of the Daimler motor car he owned. The Supplement to the London Gazette dated 11 June 1960 shows that he was awarded a C.B.E. in recognition of his work as Chairman of the Board of Governors of St Peter's, St Paul's and St Philip's Hospitals in London. He died a bachelor, aged 69, in 1972 and his death is recorded in Marylebone.

In 2013 Jonathan Myers sent us this message: “Am searching for relatives of Lawrence Emlyn Douglas Bevan. Any help in this matter appreciated. Also would like to find more information - photo's etc, on this gent.. thanks, Jon.” And, 2019 he's still searching, and is particularly interested in anything about the Daimler, the chauffeurs log and his personal driver, a Mr Nash. If you can help please reply to him at thunderchickentoo@hotmail.com and please copy us.