A GENEROUS donation was received for the annual 'Trees of Light' collection this year, all the way from the other side of the world.

Many West Devon residents sponsor a light on the Tavistock Town Hall Christmas trees to remember a loved one, but this year a light was sponsored from a man living in Australia.

Ron Hellier, 86, heard about the Trees of Light from his sister, who still lives in the town. Along with his £100 donation, was a letter explaining his donation.

Ron was originally born in West Bridge and grew up in Tavistock, where his father owned an upholstery business.

He joined the army in 1945 and returned to Tavistock in 1948 where he completed his apprenticeship as a compositor at the Tavistock Gazette.

He then moved around the country and ended up emigrating with his wife to South Australia.

In the letter Ron said: 'I asked sis to let me know what's what about the church Christmas tree.

'I received one of my regular letters and I decided to post off a couple of bob, which I have been wanting to do long before I reached this grand old age of "getting on for '86".

'I do not really know what to put the name or cause on the form, so can only think to put my beloved mum and dad's name there.

'There are so many things I can remember about Tavy, the Meadows, the Tavy Gazette, the river, Dolvin Road School where I was taught woodwork among every other thing to enable me to get on all over the world, the town hall where we Tavy Cadets held dances of a Saturday; oh, so much to remember.

'I am wishing everyone in Tavistock the most wonderful "old fashioned" Christmas of Tavy years ago.

'The bit missing there now is — I am not there! I do hope this £100 can be put to a good use in the town that I love.'