A local man spoke of his sadness in announcing that his father, an Abergavenny stalwart, had recently passed away.

Robert Cummings, son of Graham, said his father’s recent passing had affected him deeply.

Graham, who sadly passed away aged 80, at Nevill Hall hospital on March 11, led an active and full life.

He filled his retirement with golf, snooker, and particularly enjoyed travelling abroad.

In his earlier years, Mr Cummings held a raft of prominent positions, outlining a lifelong commitment to community service.

After being first appointed Abergavenny Town Clerk in 1968, Mr Cummings went on to the role of chief executive of local government reorganisation of Monmouth Borough Council in 1974, before retiring back in 1996.

Following many years of successful service, he then earned the title of Honorary Freeman of The Borough of Monmouth in March of that year.

Mr Cummings didn’t rest, then joining the office for security and cooperation in Europe in 1996 where he acted as election supervisor, on three occasions between 1996 and 2000, following the war in Bosnia and in Albania.

He passed away on March 11. Mr Cummings is survived by his wife Mary, his sister, his son Robert, his daughter-in-law, and his grandchildren.