Legacy fund gives first grants

29th October 2024

‘Firsts’ are a lovely thing to recognise and the Ron and Elsie Odden Legacy Fund, set up with us earlier in the year, has just given its first grants to support five local charities.

Support 4 Sight who provide information, advice and guidance to people experiencing sight loss across Mid and West Essex, received £3,000. They work hard to improve the wellbeing of not just the individuals, but their families and carers as well.

Barrow Farm Riding & Carriage Driving for the Disabled near Chelmsford which is one of only two specialist riding schools in Essex and the only one to offer carriage driving as an alternative to riding, received £3,000 to support their running costs, including food and shelter for the horses and ponies, and equipment.

A grant of £4,000 was also given to Cancer Fitness CIC towards the cost of providing free fitness sessions to individuals with a cancer diagnosis in Southend, and £1,000 each was awarded to St Francis Hospice and the Essex Heart Fund (essexheartfund.org.uk). EHF was set up to support charities working with cardiac patients in the community, the development of new clinical services in Essex and local cardiovascular research and teaching.

Ron and Elsie met through a friendship group in the East End of London enjoying nights out a local dance halls. They married in 1955 and Ron’s early career was spent in the Royal Navy, later taking up photography professionally.  Elsie was a clerk straight out of school, with a love of knitting and dressmaking.

Ron and Elsie were active members of Masonic lodges and involved in various charitable organisations their lodges supported. They enjoyed watching sport and home based holidays, and while they did not have children themselves, they doted on their nieces, nephews and godchildren.

Sadly, Elsie passed away in 2019 and Ron had previously died in 1996. Their estate was to be split with half going to Ron’s godson, John, and half to a specified charity. By the time Elsie died, the charity was no longer in existence and the Will failed so the whole estate went to John.

John didn’t feel comfortable about receiving the whole estate when the intention of his godparents was to make a gift to charity, but he had no idea which charity to give the money to.  John discussed this with his neighbour, Ann Coutts, who is also a private client solicitor and she suggested that ECF could be a suitable option.

Following advice from the Charity Commission, John got in touch with us and after a couple of meetings we set up the fund in Ron and Elsie’s memory.

Their legacy will continue to support causes and charities in Essex that they cared most about, including health, improving fitness and wellbeing and helping people with disabilities.

If you would like to leave a gift in your Will to support local charities, there are different ways you can do this. Call Perry Norton on 01245 355947 to have a conversation and disccuss the causes matter most to you.