A former soldier, photographer and shopkeeper who was awarded the Freedom of Monmouth in 1981 has died.

Derek Hanbury Jones was born in 1925 at 75 Monnow Street and attended Priory Street School. On Sundays, he went to the St Mary's Sunday School in the Mission Room, John Street, in the early 30s under the guidance of two sisters who kept a boarding house in Glendower Street.

Derek then went on to Monmouth Grammar School where he not only excelled with his studies, but also in sports, such as boxing, rugby and cricket. He also represented Monmouth in rugby and cricket.

After school he joined the army and was a Lance Bombardier in the Royal Artillery, between 1943 and 1947, including stints in India and Burma following the Second World War.

After serving his time in the Army, he joined the British Legion after leaving the services and got involved in collecting through his mother, also a volunteer.

During the war years, he returned to Monmouth to enter the family business of TH Jones & Son at 75 Monnow Street.

This business was not only a DIY shop at the time but were builders, plumbers, decorators, as well as providing a funeral service to the community.

In 1950, he married Mirian 'Twinkle' Jones at St Mary's church, and they spent most of their married life at The Gardens; they had one son, Owen.

Derek served the church in several capacities, notably as sidesman, server, treasurer of the PCC and even as captain of the bell ringers team. He was a church warden for over 30 years.

It was on the death of Derek's father Len, in the early 1960s that he decided to concentrate solely on the shop business, which he carried forward to his retirement in 1985, often taking passport pictures for people in the back of the shop.

During his time running the business, he instructed his 'apprentice' John Morgan, on the 'ins and outs' of managing the shop, which in turn gave Derek a bit more time to carry on with his outside interests.

He became secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, secretary of the Royal British Legion, organising the local Poppy Day appeal.

He was a founder member of many organisations in the town including the University of the Third Age, Citizens Advice Bureau, the Civic Society and was a member of Monmouth Rotary for over 30 years

He was also a founder member of the Monmouth Photography Club and a freelance photographer for the Monmouthshire Beacon.

When he was involved with the Chamber of Commerce, he not only helped to set up the first twinning group of people from Monmouth with the town of Ry in Denmark and travelled with them himself to represent the town.

He once told John Morgan; "It was an awful crossing on the ship with most of the group being seasick."

He was a familiar face at the Chamber stand at Monmouthshire Show for over 20 years.

Derek was well known in the town for his work with the Royal British Legion, organising the Poppy Day collection for 50 years and the arrangements for Remembrance Sunday.

He had been volunteering for the appeal since 1977, raising a total of £157,457,28 to 2008.

His first collection raised £1,124.97 and he successfully topped the previous year's total every year since.

In 2008 he collected a record £12,903.18.

He enjoyed standing on his patch in Agincourt Square selling poppies and once said: "They say the only way you're going to stop is when you're carried out in a box."

It was for this work that he was awarded an MBE in 2000 "for services to the community, especially the Royal British Legion, in Monmouth".

He was awarded the Freedom of Monmouth Town in 1981 for services rendered, an honour that only a handful of local people have ever been awarded.

His funeral will take place on Wednesday 5th February at 10.30am at St Mary's Church, Monmouth.

With thanks to John Morgan and Owen Jones for additional information.