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| Widow spends £1,000 on Devon community Christmas lunch | Widow spends £1,000 on Devon community Christmas lunch |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A widow who hates spending the festive season alone is treating about 40 people to a Christmas lunch in Devon. | |
| Betty Williams, 86, is paying £1,000 for the meals at the Lamb and Flag in Ottery St Mary later on Tuesday. | Betty Williams, 86, is paying £1,000 for the meals at the Lamb and Flag in Ottery St Mary later on Tuesday. |
| The former teacher, who lost her husband 12 years ago, said she decided to make the gesture so others would not have to face Christmas on their own. | The former teacher, who lost her husband 12 years ago, said she decided to make the gesture so others would not have to face Christmas on their own. |
| A town crier, brass band and carol singing would also feature in the celebration, landlord Ron Miles said. | A town crier, brass band and carol singing would also feature in the celebration, landlord Ron Miles said. |
| 'Incredible lady' | 'Incredible lady' |
| Town mayor Glyn Dobson helped gather the guests, working with local churches and members of the local Rotary Club after Mrs Williams approached him with the idea. | Town mayor Glyn Dobson helped gather the guests, working with local churches and members of the local Rotary Club after Mrs Williams approached him with the idea. |
| He said: "She's very generous to do this. I love to see local people getting together anyway. | He said: "She's very generous to do this. I love to see local people getting together anyway. |
| "And to see them coming just before Christmas to enjoy themselves is great." | "And to see them coming just before Christmas to enjoy themselves is great." |
| Mr Miles also echoed that it was "going to be a really special day". | Mr Miles also echoed that it was "going to be a really special day". |
| He said: "She's an incredible lady making a wonderful, wonderful gesture." | He said: "She's an incredible lady making a wonderful, wonderful gesture." |
| Donors from around the world - including Europe, California and Australia - had now funded similar meals for the future, he added. | Donors from around the world - including Europe, California and Australia - had now funded similar meals for the future, he added. |
| He said: "We've had such an incredible response. We've collected just over £4,000 - enough funds for at least the next three years - and, with extra fundraising throughout the year, we expect it to be annual event." | He said: "We've had such an incredible response. We've collected just over £4,000 - enough funds for at least the next three years - and, with extra fundraising throughout the year, we expect it to be annual event." |