FOUR women from the Tavistock parish received grants from the Jessie Ann Alford Charity last year, town clerk Carl Hearne told members of the public at the recent annual town meeting.

The charity exists to benefit 'spinsters and widows' and has 822 income shares in the Charities Investment Fund, valued at £8,539.

The charity has an income of between £300 and £400 per annum.

Mr Hearne said: 'Jessie Ann Alford was the wife of William Charles Alford, a local market keeper, council and poor law guardian in the 1920s.

'They were members of the Plymouth Brethren community, and when Jessie died in 1947, she left £1,000 in trust to the local council.

'A scheme was established by which the charity was to benefit spinsters and widows aged 60 and over, living in the parish of Tavistock.'

Mr Hearne said the distribution of funds was made just before Christmas each year to a maximum of eight deserving applicants, selected by the trustees.

Last year, four grants of £90 were made, with a balance of £117 being carried forward to next year.