AN expat from Widnes who moved to Australia as a 'Ten Pound Pom' has inherited from a British stranger's £400,000 estate after heir hunters track her down.
Jacqueline, 82 was stunned when she received a letter telling her she was set to inherit the cash.
The surprise windfall came from Raymond Barry Howson, 85 and born in Altrincham, who died in West Middlesex in 2021.
Raymond had no next of kin and had not made a will, so his fortune, which included a flat in Twickenham, London, was at risk of being handed to the treasury.
Finders International, a professional probate genealogy firm that features on BBC’s Heir Hunters show, took the case and tracked down his relatives.
Raymond, who worked mainly as an airline cabin crew member, had never married or had any children.
Finders International tracked down Jacqueline over 9,000 miles away in Western Australia, who was found to be Raymond's second cousin.
Jacqueline, originally from Halebank, emigrated to Australia as a Ten Pound Pom in March 1969 with her then-husband and three young children.
Ten Pound Poms were British citizens who migrated to Australia and New Zealand after the Second World War.
On inheriting part of his estate, Jacqueline, said: “I was totally surprised to have been contacted by Finders International.
''It was completely unexpected. Initially of course I was somewhat suspicious, as it is certainly not an everyday occurrence to be told that you are going to inherit money from someone you have never heard of.
“I didn’t know Raymond. I never met him or heard of him. I have lived in Western Australia for more than 56 years, and I find it incredible that Finders International tracked me down.
“They literally searched the world to find me. It is so pleasing to establish the details of my extended family tree.
''My mother and Raymond would have been cousins, and thanks to Finders, I now understand how I am related to him.
“I am hoping to spend the inheritance on building an enclosed decking area at my house so that I can sit outside in the evenings safe from mosquitos.
''There, I will have a drink and remember Raymond."
Another beneficiary was Lorraine Gesell, aged 60 and a Canadian 4,600 miles away in Mission, British Colombia.
Lorraine’s mother, originally from Ellesmere Port, emigrated to Canada in 1951.
Lorraine had also never heard of Raymond. Her grandfather and Raymond’s mother were siblings.
Lorraine added: “In this day and age, there are so many scams going around that I was very wary.
''It sounded like a fairytale – someone you never knew has died and you are entitled to an inheritance. It really is quite unbelievable.
"However, Finders International provided me with details about my extended family, and of course there was never a request for money, so it did make sense to me.”
In total Finders International found 47 beneficiaries around the world, ranging from New Zealand, Canada, Australia and throughout the UK.
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