A woman who forgot about shares and war stock in her will can bequeath them to the Church of England Pensions Board.

Deemster Kerruish ruled Lilian Stella Squire of Port Erin had wanted to leave the assets to the board but had simply forgotten about them when she was drawing up her will.

A panel of executors went to the Chancery Division of the High Court as, with nobody to claim the stock and shares, they would have gone to the Treasury.

But giving his judgement, Deemster Kerruish said it was obvious Mrs Squire had meant to include the forgotten assets in her will.

Jason Roberts reports (text from attached audio file, below):

Mrs Squire had been married to a vicar who died in 1964, and in her will she bequeathed most of her possessions to the Pensions Board for helping her in her widowhood.

But the Royal Bank of Scotland shares and almost ?20,000 in war stock had been forgotten, meaning the Treasury was free to claim them.

Deemster Kerruish said in his opinion Mrs Squire had meant to leave her remaining estate to the board.

He ordered the executors to gift the remaining assets to the Church of England’s pensions board.

(Picture: Douglas courthouse, where the judgement was delivered, from iomguide.com).