Widely respected in Bhutan, he was affectionately known as Golden Temple. He spent many years working with charities and branches of the United Nations to improve conditions in the region.

An expatriate since the age of 18, Temple had converted to Buddhism, the predominant faith of the Bhutanese Kingdom. He passed out as a Gurkha officer at Bangalore but subsequently spent periods on detachment with both the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders and the Black Watch.

Some years ago, he set up the Nepalese Tea Corporation in the capital of Kathmandu. In Bhutan, he built houses for the people, encouraging solar energy development. He also worked for Unicef, the UN International Children's Educational Fund, and was highly respected for his dedication to the people.

The small kingdom of Bhutan is growing in popularity as a holiday destination, nestling in the snow-capped Himalayan mountain range next to Sikkim, which adjoins Nepal, just above north-east India.

Temple had recently been granted the rare honour and privilege of Honorary Bhutanese citizenship and was furthermore accorded the honour of a traditional Bhutanese Buddhist funeral, lasting no less than three days, by HRH the King of Bhutan.