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Trustees for the Dr. Alison Rae Bequest
The Bury Society administers a generous legacy from a previous member, Dr Alison Rae, which is used for local projects of creation or preservation in the town centre, or as a contribution to larger works in co-operation with others.
Dr. Alison Joan Rae was a Deputy Medical Officer for West Suffolk. In her Will, dated 5th November 1981, she bequeathed several personal chattels to the Bury Society, which when sold realised over £3,000, together with a clock which (by request) was donated to the Gershom-Parkington collection of timepieces, previously in the Manor House Museum. The remainder of her estate was divided equally among:
- The Bury St Edmunds Town Trust, for general purposes
- St. Mary’s Church, for maintenance of the church fabric
- The Bury St. Edmunds Society, for:
“local projects whether of creation or preservation in or near the town centre, and I express the wish (without imposing any binding obligation) that some part of this bequest shall be used in or towards the provision and planting in the Churchyard of one or more suitable long-living forest tree or trees therein”
Dr. Rae died on 29th January 1987, and the total value of the bequest to the Society was £86,181. This was received in 1989. Subsequently it was established that the planting of trees in the Churchyard would not be permitted because of the potential disturbance of graves and damage to monuments, both by root systems.
The Fund is administered by Members of the Executive Committee acting as trustees, and expenditure to date has been is shown on the following page. Many of the items have been as a contribution to large-scale projects.
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