Woman inherits thousands after death of UK relative she never even knew she had

Christine Woodey, from Bristol, died alone in February 2021 at Southmead Hospital and she had no known next of kin nor made a will - with an investigation identifying Sandra Vanstone in Canada

A Canadian woman has unexpectedly inherited £15,000 after a long-lost relative in the UK passed away without leaving a will.

Christine Woodey, from Bristol, died alone in Southmead Hospital in February 2021, with no known next of kin and no will. Danny Curran, from Finders International, a professional probate genealogy firm featured on BBC TV's Heir Hunters, was tasked by Bristol City Council to find any relatives who could inherit Christine's estate.

The search led them to an extensive family spread across the UK and as far as Canada. Sandra Vanstone, a 63-year-old resident of Canada, whose father was a cousin of Christine, was identified as one of the beneficiaries. Sandra shared: "I got a letter out of the blue from Finders International. I really wasn't sure what to think but as it didn't ask for personal details or money so I thought it was probably genuine."

Speaking to BristolLive, she added: "I called Finders International's London office and was quite surprised by the news. I had never heard of Christine and didn't know how I could be related to her. I was aware of some fracturing within the previous generation of my family but I never quite got to the bottom of it."

"Now, thanks to Finders International's work, I understand that my father, Raymond Woodey, and Christine were first cousins. Christine's father and my grandmother were siblings! Sadly, my father has passed away so I really don't know if he knew or remembered his cousin Christine either. It is really quite extraordinary."

After her big move to Canada with her parents at the age of 10, Sandra lost touch with certain family members including Christine. Christine was actually the only child of Henry Churchill Amesbury, who worked as an aircraft engineer during World War II, and Mildred Collins. The couple got married in 1939 and welcomed their daughter in Bristol a couple of years later.

The most intriguing find from the researchers was about Aunt Evelyn Amesbury, notorious in her time and known as an "incorrigible rogue". Back in 1923, she faced the courts in Downend, Bristol, and built up an impressive list of 57 convictions over a span of just ten years.

Despite appeals for mercy noting her very respectable family, Aunt Evelyn was thrown behind bars with hard labour for numerous misdeeds such as vandalism, theft, sleeping rough, and being drunk and disorderly. Aunt Evelyn never had kids but got married at 76 and lived to a grand age of 95.

Sandra shared: "It has been an interesting and surprising process that has helped me piece together some of my extended family. I was particularly intrigued by the story of my great aunt who unfortunately seemed to have had a difficult early life." Christine left behind £15,000 when she passed away.

Danny Curran from Finders International explained: "Christine had not made a will and, as she was an only child and didn't have any children herself, there was initially no obvious next of kin. In these situations, it is incumbent on the authorities to make every effort to find relatives and that is why professional probate genealogist firms, like us, are often instructed."

"Without a will, we will never know what Christine's last wishes were, however we are pleased to have found relatives to inherit her estate and possibly renew their extended family connections."

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