Wills and probate news: Charity apologises for headstone delay

A charity has issued an apology after a man decided to make a will leaving his assets to them on the condition that they placed a headstone on his grave, which they delayed doing.

North Wales Weekly News reported that historian Dr Arthur Stamp, of Penrhyn Bay, bequeathed his estate to Age UK when he passed away in October 2009.

It was worth around £200,000 and a collection of artefacts he owned was also auctioned off for over £20,000.

He said that the charity should organise putting a memorial headstone on his grave and the organisation has only just done this, prompting condemnation from some quarters.

Local historian Chris Draper said that people in the area were concerned as there had been nothing to commemorate Dr Stamp's life except bare earth.

Helen Hoare, head of probate and legacy administration at Age UK, apologised for the delay, saying that the charity was grateful for Dr Stamp's gift.

She said: "In line with Dr Stamp's wishes, his memorial stone has now been placed on his grave in the churchyard at Llandrillo yn Rhos. We apologise for the delay and we are sorry for any distress this may have caused."

Dr Stamp taught history at Colwyn Bay's Rydal School, Glyndr School in Rhyl, Cottingham School in Yorkshire and Hull University.

Published by Hannah Carr