Throughout her life, Lady Alice Wheeler was dismayed at the lack of government funding set aside for the sick.

When she died in April aged 94 she left part of her £2.5 million will to worthy causes.

The wealthy widow, who had a luxury flat near Brighton Marina, left her legacy to groups such as Cancer Research UK, The Martlets Hospice in Hove and the NSPCC.

These charities rely on benefactors like Lady Wheeler but it should not have to be that way.

According to friends, the elderly widow often said the Government was not distributing money as it should do.

Rightly so. What charities would give for the cash spent on Tony Blair's air fares and President George Bush's ranch.