He was head of its Department of Chemistry from 1953 and 1966, and its Vice Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor from 1960 to 1964.

[1] In the 1965 New Year Honours, Bevan was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).

[2] He was made an officer of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques by the government of France in 1986.

[1] In 1969, Bevan was made a Fellow of University College London (UCL);[1] this is an honorary appointment recognising "distinction in the arts, literature, science, business or public life".

[3] He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science (DSc) degree in 1973 by the University of Ibadan.