An Abergavenny man who served as a royal advisor during the Tudor period was commemorated at St Mary’s Priory last week.

More than 150 people attended the service in honour of Dr David Lewis - a noted academic, lawyer, politician and adviser to Queen Elizabeth I.

The service involved hymns from King Henry VIII school choir and speeches from Canon Mark Soady and Sir Nigel Shadbolt, the 33rd and current principal of Jesus College.

Around 75 college alumni were present at the bilingual ceremony, alongside other esteemed guests including local MP David Davies.

The college existed as one of the primary higher education institutions, in an era when there was no recognised university in Wales.

Many see Dr Lewis as the pioneer of an educational legacy which continues some five hundred years after his death in 1584.

Dr Lewis was born in Abergavenny in 1515 and was educated at the precursor to King Henry VIII, before graduating from prestigious Oxford University.

He then began a career as a civil lawyer under the Tudors before becoming MP for Steyning in 1553, and Monmouthshire the following year.

When Queen Elizabeth I founded Jesus College, she appointed him as the first principal in 1571.

Alumni of the college have raised more than a quarter of a million pounds, which is funnelled into support for students from less affluent backgrounds to attend his alma mater of Oxford.

Monmouth MP David Davies said the ceremony should inspire local pupils to push for places at venerable institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge.

“I’m really pleased to be here as one of my main concerns is the relatively low number of Welsh pupils who make it into Oxbridge,” said Mr Davies.

“It’s something we at the Welsh Affairs Committee have discussed several times in the past.”