A total of �3.5m has now been given to local good causes and charities from a trust set up by former businessman and ex-Norwich City chairman Geoffrey Watling.
The legacy of the entrepreneur – who died in 2004 – is making a real difference to a wide variety of organisations serving countless communities in Norfolk and Waveney.
The latest series of grants – totalling �157,952 – were awarded by the trustees of the Geoffrey Watling Charity and that saw the �3.5m landmark passed,
Grants of �20,000 were given to the Norfolk and Norwich Liver Group at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital towards Fibroscan diagnostic equipment and also to St Stephens Church for the upgrade of facilities.
A �15,000 donation was made to increase the number of specialised cots at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital for premature and critically ill babies, while �12,500 will go to the Wells Community Hospital for the provision of dialysis treatment for people while on holiday.
The trustees have also given �10,000 each to the Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind for work on the entrance to Thomas Tawell House, the Garage Trust for modifications to rehearsal studios and to the Norfolk Archaeological Trust for conservation work at St Benet's Abbey.
Other grant recipients included CPRE Norfolk, First Beetley Scout Group, Worstead School and Signpost Gunton in Lowestoft.
Chairman of the trustees Alan Watling said: 'Geoffrey established the charity in 1993 and we are pleased that the fund he set up continues to make a real difference for a number of good causes in Norfolk and the Waveney area of Suffolk.'
Geoffrey Watling was born in Norwich in 1913 and one of his first enterprises at school was rearing rabbits for meat. By the age of 16 he was running the family carriers business.
During his life Mr Watling had more than 200 businesses from taxis to ice creams and ballrooms to funeral services.
He played a key role in saving Norwich City from financial crisis and was the club's longest serving chairman.
For more information on the charity and details of how to apply for grants see the website www.geoffreywatling.org.uk
ian.clarke@archant.co.uk
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