The Day and Watson TrustBy Andrew Burnett
Have you ever noticed this stone plaque on the wall in St John the Baptist Church? If so, you may not realise that Harriet Day’s bequest (together with another from Abraham Watson) is still invested and producing an income which the Harriet Day and Abraham Watson Trust distributes.
Harriet Day’s original intention was to benefit “five poor women, single or widows, partakers of the Holy Communion, and residents for ten years within two miles of this church”. Times change, and there are now few people who meet these stringent criteria, so the trustees have (with the help of the Charities Commission) broadened this to include anyone in need in our parish.
Even so, it is not always easy to identify the most needy in the parish. So if anyone reading this knows of a neighbour who might benefit from a small addition to their income, please get in touch (in confidence) with the present trustees, Andrew Burnett (837353) or Mike Senior (837757).