Ralph's Footprint

Ralph with his dogs: Cheska & Lamin

A message from Amy

Ralph Mellon was a very close friend of my father Mike. Ralph struggled with bipolar disorder and his dogs Cheska and Lamin were a lifeline, he shared reciprocal devotion with them and his love for and joy in them was clear for all to see.

He was thrilled when I qualified as a Vet, and I still cherish a dog bracelet charm he gave me as a congratulatory gift. When Ralph died after a short illness in 2019, he left me some money and we used this to help set up The Grove Vets.

Having grown up inspired by Ralphs' relationship with his dogs and the way in which they supported him and made some of the hard times a little brighter, I knew this was a fitting way in which to commemorate Ralph and put his generous gift towards something meaningful.

Ralph also leaves behind another legacy.

In 2014 he co-founded The Catharina Mellon School, named after his mother, with his Gambian friend Fugi Drammeh in the village of Bondali in The Gambia, West Africa.

Here there is no running water, electricity or any other infrastructure and most people live on agriculture and handicraft.

The Catharina Mellon School

When the school was founded in 2014 the first thing to be installed was a solar groundwater pump, supplying the school and local village of Bondali with water. Today the school affords over 260 children an education.

In 2024, after The Gambia was removed from the World Food Programme, the school bakery was built. The bakery is almost self-sustaining by selling bread to the neighbouring villages. The proceeds are used to buy flour, so the school children get a small baguette every day which is complemented by fruit and vegetables from the school garden - important sustenance in one of the poorest countries in the world.

Ralph generously benefitted the school on his death and then, in 2019, “Ralph’s Footprint” was set up as a charity (regulated by The Charity Commission in the UK) to continue his wish of advancing the education of children and young people through education related projects and the promotion of good mental health. The charity also makes donations to prevent or supress cruelty to animals and to promote the preservation of the environment.

We are immensely grateful to Ralph in helping to enable us to set up The Grove Vets and so have adopted Ralph’s Footprint as our chosen charity. If you would also like to support this wonderful cause and donate, then please find the charity bank details below.

Alternatively, you could sponsor a child studying at The Catharina Mellon School through their Godparents Program run by Daniela Filthault.