When retired cabin crew member Raymond Barry Howson died alone at the age of 85, he had no known next of kin and no will. Despite leaving behind a valuable estate worth in excess of £400,000, it initially appeared that there was no one to inherit it.
Mr Howson had worked as cabin crew for much of his life and was well-travelled, with neighbours describing him as a private but friendly individual. He had lived alone in his modest flat in Twickenham for many years, never marrying or having children, and his passing initially went unnoticed until authorities intervened.
The story, reported by the Manchester Evening News, reveals how our team at Finders International traced Howson’s closest living relative, Lorraine Gesell, 60, who lives in Canada, leading to a life-changing inheritance.
Lorraine, who was identified by Finders as a first cousin of the deceased, had no idea she was the rightful heir to her late cousin’s estate. She recalled her disbelief, saying, “I thought it was a scam. You just don’t expect this sort of thing to happen.” Ultimately, she found herself inheriting “a stranger’s £400k estate,” describing the moment as “an incredible shock.”
Simonne Llewellyn, CEO of Finders International, highlighted the importance of meticulous research and ethical practices in our work. “Our priority is always to ensure rightful heirs are located and treated with respect,” she said.
Without Finders involvement, Mr Howson’s estate would have fallen under bona vacantia, meaning the assets would be passed to the Crown as ownerless property. Simonne added, “It’s always rewarding to know that our work has helped keep a family legacy intact and prevented an estate from passing to the Crown.”
Read the full story on the Manchester Evening News website here.