Tenby Museum and Art Gallery Curator has paid tribute to former colleague John Beynon who passed away recently.

Mark Lewis who worked with Mr. Beynon for over twenty years at the Museum where he started off as Honorary Librarian and then went on to be a long serving Honorary Curator, praised the late Mr. Beynon’s ‘energy and enthusiasm for the arts’.

“John was full of energy and enthusiasm for the arts and heritage of Tenby and it was under his and John Tipton’s aegis that the New Art Gallery was opened in 1995 with an exhibition of works by Philip Sutton,” he said.

“This gallery continues to provide a high-class display space to both recognised and up and coming artists in the area and will stand as a worthy testament to John’s love and appreciation of the arts.

“John was always a private individual who never suffered fools but he had an excellent sense of humour.

“He was widely read, knew about classical music and literature, the monarchy and politics and when he undertook a task, such as the exhibition on the monastic island of Caldey he threw himself whole-heartedly into the research and writing processes.

“The trustees are grateful to the work that he undertook to help the museum, be it in exhibitions, grant funding or networking with larger institutions such as the National Museum Wales. He will be sadly missed,” added Mark.