The Dr Alison Rae Bequest
A plaque in the Great Churchyard
Dr Alison Rae was a Deputy Medical Officer for West Suffolk. In her will, dated November 5th 1981, she bequeathed a small legacy to the Bury Society, some to the Town Trust and some to St Mary’s Church.
Dr Rae died on January 29, 1987. The bequest was received by the Bury Society in 1989. The fund is administered by members of the Executive Committee and Trustees, quite often as a contribution to large scale projects.
I was Chairman and met her over her bequest. At that time she thought she was about to pass away but in fact lived for a further 5-6 years!! All this time she lived at Manson House, Northgate Street care home. Before that I do not know but she must have lived locally as she was the local Medical Officer of Health for the town under the payroll of the local authority. I and many people saw her walking about always in the same dress code-a white bonnet and large sweeping black cape. A rather Dickens like figure!
Gerald Travers, Chairman of the Bury Society 1979-1981, recalls Dr Rae
The Dr Rae bequest has been used for many projects, here are just a few:
- Hurricane tree planting
- Restoration of the Unitarian meeting House
- River Linnet Project
- Replacement of copper beech tree in Abbey Gardens
- Suffolk Regiment Museum extension in Moyse’s Hall Museum
- Lift for disabled in the Cathedral
- Tree planting in Cattle Market car park