PAST and present pupils of Pewsey Vale School are being invited to ask for financial help from a trust set up by former school governors chairman Doreen King.

Mrs King, who died 15 years ago, was a long serving governor of the Pewsey secondary school and left a sum of money which has been invested in the Doreen King Foundation.

Each year trustees invite applications from present and former pupils of Pewsey Vale School who are receiving, or about to receive, further education to apply for financial help.

Trustee Stella Collings said: "The trust can provide financial help for such things as specialist clothing, tools, books and travel in connection with the course being taken (but not normal daily travel), and help towards entering a profession, trade etc and in many other ways."

Geoffrey Grindrod, chairman of the trustees, said the trust had been able to help many former pupils, some in rather unexpected ways.

He said: "I remember we helped one chap to pay for some flying lessons because it was part of his job to learn how to fly.

"We could not put a lot of money towards it but we gave as much as we could. We also grave a grant to a marine biology student towards an underwater survey he had to undertake."

Applications for grants should be made by pupils or former pupils themselves to Mrs Collings, trustee and correspondent of the Doreen King Foundation, 29 Astley Close, Pewsey SN9 5BD.