TV Heir Hunters find relatives for Southampton man's fortune (From Daily Echo)
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TV Heir Hunters find relatives for Southampton man's fortune
6:00am Monday 13th July 2009 in
THROUGHOUT his life he scrimped and saved every penny.
Alan Twigg, who lived a very modest life in the Southampton suburb of Bassett, certainly lived up to that old adage of if you look after the pennies the pounds take care of themselves.
His pennywise ways even extended to counting the number of sheets in toilet rolls to pinpoint which supermarket provided most value for money.
By living well within his means the 68 year-old retired insurance investigator amassed more than £500,000.
Mr Twigg, described as a lifelong bachelor, died at the end of last year and it seemed that there was no one to benefit from his well saved fortune.
Indeed the huge sum was in danger of slipping into the coffers of the Crown.
But then those intrepid TV heir hunters stepped in and traced his two cousins who will now share a surprise windfall.
A brother and sister, one lives in Norfolk and the other in Surrey. They are both believed to be in their late sixties.
It was a tip off from a member of the public in Southampton that set the TV detectives on the trail of the missing relatives.
Millions of viewers will today see how they tracked them down in the BBC TV programme Heir Hunters.
A programme spokesman said: "Mr Twigg had amassed his wealth over the course of many years scrimping and saving every penny his whole life to the point that he counted the number of sheets in toilet rolls to ascertain which supermarket provided most value for money.
"He was a very frugal gentleman."
Mr Twigg owned a £200,000 house which is understood to have been in Ethelbert Avenue, Southampton as well as more than £300,000 in shares and bank accounts.
The Treasury receives about £18m from intestate estates which have not been claimed. According to the Ministry of Justice's Judicial and Court Statistics in 2007 - the latest figures released - some 76,000 people died without leaving a will. It is estimated that 60 to 70 per cent of the population does not have a valid will.
Heir Hunters will be screened on BBC1 today at 9.15am.
Comments(8)
southy
says...
9:45am Mon 13 Jul 09
bullarboy wrote:some of them are good in historical value, like one i watch a while back, that one was about a hannah barns, who's family is a direct line from the crown, more direct line than the crown we got now. illegitmate child off prince regent george IV
'millions of viewers' - I doubt it very much at 9.15am! - Why anyone would want to watch such drivel is beyond me anyway!!
goard
says...
11:12am Mon 13 Jul 09
goard
King Mush
says...
11:46am Mon 13 Jul 09
I must start checking my genealogy etc - I'm sure there was a
'Rockefeller' mentioned in my family in the 60s.
Or was it 'Cinderella' something???
King Mush
says...
11:49am Mon 13 Jul 09
goard wrote:Sad story though.
Alan Twigg worked in the fire and accident insurance company in Soton. Our Chief Clerk said Alan would be joining us and he was brilliant with five 'A' and would be an asset to the company. He was a quiet and gentle man and he did not have the 'push' of an executive type. When we were collecting money he would bring out a very small purse, we pulled his leg over that. We were always chiding him as to any girl friend. He would go to firm's 'do' but he was always shy and did not join in with any activities. I think of him as a quiet but kind man. goard
Shame that he didnt enjoy his money in life , like so many introverted people.
I wonder what the lucky cousins are like?
Lone Ranger
says...
3:04pm Mon 13 Jul 09
King Mush wrote:The cousins are wearing big grins.
goard wrote: Alan Twigg worked in the fire and accident insurance company in Soton. Our Chief Clerk said Alan would be joining us and he was brilliant with five 'A' and would be an asset to the company. He was a quiet and gentle man and he did not have the 'push' of an executive type. When we were collecting money he would bring out a very small purse, we pulled his leg over that. We were always chiding him as to any girl friend. He would go to firm's 'do' but he was always shy and did not join in with any activities. I think of him as a quiet but kind man. goardSad story though. Shame that he didnt enjoy his money in life , like so many introverted people. I wonder what the lucky cousins are like?
Qtr mill each !!
Rob444
says...
3:44pm Mon 13 Jul 09
bullarboy wrote:Watching this programme is not compulsory, but many people probably record it for subsequent viewing.
'millions of viewers' - I doubt it very much at 9.15am! - Why anyone would want to watch such drivel is beyond me anyway!!
Compared to the so-called reality shows and other trivia that's on the box, this is quite an interesting and well made programme.
southy
says...
10:10pm Mon 13 Jul 09
Rob444 wrote:agreed i iike it for some of it historical facts.
bullarboy wrote:Watching this programme is not compulsory, but many people probably record it for subsequent viewing.
'millions of viewers' - I doubt it very much at 9.15am! - Why anyone would want to watch such drivel is beyond me anyway!!
Compared to the so-called reality shows and other trivia that's on the box, this is quite an interesting and well made programme.
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bullarboy says...
9:27am Mon 13 Jul 09