A Monmouth man who co-founded and was chairman of Monmouth Aid, a charity supporting regions in Ethiopia has passed away.

Dr Dick McPherson was awarded a British Empire Medal in 2018 for his services to education and charity.

As chairman of Monmouth Aid, his group has helped to create a sustainable future for deprived regions in Ethiopia and supported schools in their construction and expansion.

The work is done by the international charity Action Aid who act as their agents and their representatives have visited the project every few years. In the past, sixth form students from Monmouth have travelled to the areas they are helping.

In 2010, the Beacon reported that Monmouth Aid raised £18,000 to support the building of two new schools in Meroshile and Shamala, in the Kemba region of Ethiopia.

In 2014-2016, they helped provide clean water for Mero Primary School after an expansion programme a few years earlier.

He and his wife Helen and daughter Anna, were guests at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party in 2019.

"I feel very lucky to represent the charity and everyone who has worked so hard over the past thirty years for Monmouth Aid," said Dick at the time.

The charity’s first projects were in the district of Waka in southern Ethiopia, where the development plan included clean water projects, basic health care, soil conservation, crop improvement and providing a primary school in every village.

It organises several major fundraising events each year and also has a runner in the London Marathon. Dick himself has competed in the event twice - the second time at the age of 68.

His wife Helen pre-deceased him in 2023. She set up Mitchel Troy church choir and she played the organ at St Maughans church and was a loyal supporter of Monmouth Aid.