Life Unlimited / Austin Macauley Publishers (ePub)

This is an unusual autobiography, it describes in great detail and honesty the efforts of a working-class lad from the heart of West Wales to equip himself for a life of public service in the mining valleys of South Wales and from there, to the bustling city of Liverpool and its surrounding towns. Dr D. Ben Rees's life of service, support and leadership in the Liverpool Welsh community has been acknowledged on many an occasion. His extensive biblical and historical literary knowledge and skill are very impressive and so is his commitment to the families and societies that came to appreciate his labour of love in North West England. He has been editor of the Rotary magazine for District 1180 for 21 years, the Peace magazines for 30 years, as well as being editor of the local monthly newspaper Yr Angor (The Anchor) for Liverpool and Manchester Welsh since 1979. The demand for him as a lecturer and preacher has taken him to Patagonia, all over England and Wales, as well as the USA. His campaigning for peace and justice brought him into friendship with Lord Soper, Daniel Berrigan, Bertrand Russell and Bruce Kent. His life as fundraiser, prolific author, collector of books, historian; his pastoral skills as a minister of Presbyterian churches, as a hospital chaplain for over thirty years, as well as a first-class organiser, is well documented. His care, his gregarious and approachable-manner nature endears him to every age group. Professor Rees still serves the Presbyterian Church of Wales since his ordination in 1962.