A VOLUNTEER for Age UK has urged people to make a will after a man she visited regularly died without putting his wishes in writing.

Loretta Earle visited 92-year-old Edwin Nottingham, of Upper Poppleton, for nine years following the death of his wife.

She and his neighbours pressed Mr Nottingham to make a will and made appointments for him, but these got cancelled for various reasons, and he died without having made one.

Mr Nottingham died in November, owning his own home and his parents’ old home, as well as money in more than one bank account, which will now be passed from the coroner to the Treasury’s solicitor, as he left no will and has no known next of kin, she said.

Loretta said Mr Nottingham had asked a neighbour to make him an appointment two weeks before he died, but he cancelled it because he wasn’t well.

“He was perfectly lucid. When he wanted to do something he could do it. I think he thought he would live forever.

“I am always saying to people: ‘If you want something, get a will written or get something in writing’. Every year there are free will and will aid sessions where you can make a will for just a donation to charity.

It’s so important for people to make a will if they want their wishes carried out.”

Loretta wrote down some of the things Mr Nottingham had told her he wanted, such as leaving £10,000 to Ripon Cathedral, as well as donations to the PDSA, Cats Protection League and the Royal British Legion.

“There were various organisations he wanted to support, but none of them will get a penny,” she said.

He had also mentioned that he wanted the undertakers who carried out his wife’s funeral to do his too, but now he will get a welfare funeral with whichever company wins the bidding process.

She said: “He had asked me to get quotes for a headstone for his wife, but now it may be that nobody will be able to release the money for it and neither his wife nor he will get a headstone,” she said.

Age UK can advise people on where to get help writing their will. National health and social care charity Sue Ryder has also launched its Legacy Campaign to raise awareness through its shops of the importance of a will. The charity says almost two-thirds of people in England have not written a will.