TRIBUTES have been paid to a charity founder whose dedication to helping others inspired countless people in and around Hay-on-Wye.

Roger Hammond, the founder of Living Earth Foundation, died at his home in Newchurch, over the Welsh border from Hay, on September 16 following a short battle with cancer.

The 56-year-old’s funeral was held at St Mary’s Church in Newchurch on Friday.

Roger was well known in Hay for ardently supporting the book town’s link with Timbuktu in Mali. He travelled to west Africa with others from Hay to establish the friendships that continue today.

He was also instrumental in supporting Two Towns One World (TTOW), Hay’s ongoing project to promote the town’s twinning with Timbuktu.

Paying tribute, TTOW project co-ordinator Anne Hillyer said: “Roger was an amazing, generous, compassionate man but above all he was an inspiration and will continue to be.

“He is missed so much already. It’s not a case of getting over what’s happened, it’s going to be a case of carrying on to honour what he started.”

Roger leaves his wife, Sonia.

To further Roger’s work and legacy, Living Earth is setting up a trust in his name. Call  020 7440 9750 for information.