0:00:02 > 0:00:05Every year, around half a million people die in the UK.
0:00:05 > 0:00:09And thousands leave no will and no known relatives.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12I mean, he was a very private person, so...
0:00:12 > 0:00:16he didn't sort of talk to us about his, um, his past.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18If no family members come forward,
0:00:18 > 0:00:20their money will go to the government.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23And that's where the heir hunters come in.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28They're experts in tracking down beneficiaries
0:00:28 > 0:00:31who have no clue they're entitled to a share of an estate.
0:00:33 > 0:00:38Getting a call about you having an inheritance is very strange.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41That's why I stopped in my tracks.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44They have to beat rival firms who will be hot on their heels,
0:00:44 > 0:00:47while working on estates that can be valued at thousands of pounds.
0:00:49 > 0:00:54It's worth between 750,000 up to potentially £1,000,000.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57And they can also open doors to the past and reunite families.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03- This is my wife, Iris.- Hi. - New sister-in-law.
0:01:03 > 0:01:08Above all, it's about giving people news of an unexpected windfall.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Could the heir hunters be knocking at your door?
0:01:18 > 0:01:21Coming up, the heir hunters can't afford to put a foot wrong,
0:01:21 > 0:01:24as they race to find heirs to a valuable estate.
0:01:25 > 0:01:30The last thing we want is for one of our competition to go sign it up.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32We'd lose half or a third of the estate.
0:01:32 > 0:01:37And a complicated case has got the team doing double time.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40We had to do two searches to make sure that nothing was missed.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43Plus, how you could be entitled to inherit unclaimed estates
0:01:43 > 0:01:45held by the treasury.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47Could thousands of pounds be coming your way?
0:01:55 > 0:01:58Tuesday morning, and the team at Fraser and Fraser
0:01:58 > 0:02:02are busy picking up on a case which they received last night.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06This is a case called Cyril Archibald Henry Fraser.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10Um, died in a nursing home. It looks a very nice, private nursing home.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14So we think maybe there's some money there.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17And the case is appealing to company boss, Neil, too.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21We start liking cases is when we've got multiple middle names.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24So, we've got a forename of Cyril,
0:02:24 > 0:02:27but then we've got an Archibald and a Henry as two middle names,
0:02:27 > 0:02:30which always makes us take a second look.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36Cyril died aged 82 in a nursing home in Hampshire,
0:02:36 > 0:02:39just days before his 83rd birthday.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44Deputy matron, Barbara Hembling,
0:02:44 > 0:02:47was one of the people who looked after him while he was there.
0:02:48 > 0:02:53Cyril Fraser came to us for palliative, end of life care.
0:02:53 > 0:02:54He was a lovely, lovely man.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57He was very, very easy to nurse and to care for.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59He didn't seem bothered by the fact that he didn't have family.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01He seemed very, very content to have friends,
0:03:01 > 0:03:03and they did visit regularly.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05Didn't seem to have any unfinished business,
0:03:05 > 0:03:09and that usually means that when people do enter the end stages,
0:03:09 > 0:03:13they go gently and peacefully, which he did.
0:03:14 > 0:03:18His neighbour of over 20 years, Jean Ball, remembers him well.
0:03:20 > 0:03:26He was a very nice gentlemanly type of man. Um, yes, very, very pleasant.
0:03:26 > 0:03:31He had these friends that he used to talk with in the town an awful lot.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34They were boys that went to the local school,
0:03:34 > 0:03:36and had lived here all their lives.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39Cyril had been a work-study engineer,
0:03:39 > 0:03:42tasked with improving productivity
0:03:42 > 0:03:44at a local factory by making sure that workers
0:03:44 > 0:03:46were as efficient as possible.
0:03:50 > 0:03:56Cyril was married to Patricia for 34 years. But, sadly she died in 2009.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01I think when he lost his wife, he was very, very lost.
0:04:02 > 0:04:07He used to just wander off, and just walk around the town,
0:04:07 > 0:04:08and what have you.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10See who he could see.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15William Stubbings had known Cyril for over 50 years,
0:04:15 > 0:04:18and he remembers how much Cyril enjoyed being with friends.
0:04:20 > 0:04:25Eight or nine of them always used to get together and talk, you know,
0:04:25 > 0:04:29and people would say, "There's that gang again over there."
0:04:29 > 0:04:34But, nearly all of them what used to get there now are passed away.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38He was always happy. Always busy in his garden.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40Anybody come along, you know,
0:04:40 > 0:04:41he'd chat with them over the gate and that.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44I've never heard no bad words against him.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47If you ask him to do anything he would do it for you.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55The case came in yesterday evening, and was picked up by boss Neil.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00It was advertised by the treasury about 5:30.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03Unfortunately, after this office is closed.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05Which meant it landed on my desk,
0:05:05 > 0:05:08which is why it's my writing on the family tree because
0:05:08 > 0:05:09I wrote it last night.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12And he's relishing the opportunity to roll up his sleeves
0:05:12 > 0:05:13and get stacking.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16I quite like the chance of doing a little bit of research.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18I don't get to do it that often.
0:05:19 > 0:05:20Um...
0:05:22 > 0:05:27I also like new cases, when new cases come it's the most exciting time.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31So, from that point of view it's good to get working.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36And Neil's research has given the firm's longest-serving manager,
0:05:36 > 0:05:38David Pacifico, a head start.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42Looks like married, no children, only child...
0:05:44 > 0:05:46The team have already established that Cyril had been born
0:05:46 > 0:05:51to Archie Charles Fraser and Edith Nellie Bills in 1930.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56He had married Patricia O'Neil in 1975,
0:05:56 > 0:06:01but she died in September 2009, and the couple had no children.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04So, the heir hunters need to widen their search
0:06:04 > 0:06:05to aunts, uncles, and cousins.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10And, the team has already narrowed down the search.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13They've discovered that Cyril's mother was an only child.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18We found a death for the grandmother, and she's left a probate,
0:06:18 > 0:06:23and hopefully if there were any other children that will be mentioned.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26I'm pretty certain of the results of our research
0:06:26 > 0:06:28we won't be looking for anyone on the maternal side,
0:06:28 > 0:06:30because there won't be any family.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32Family's died off.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34With no heirs on the maternal side,
0:06:34 > 0:06:38any beneficiaries to Cyril's estate will be on the paternal side.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42If that side dies out, his money will go to the government.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46The team establishes that there were four children
0:06:46 > 0:06:47on Cyril's father's side.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53One of the stems looks like Ethel. Looks like she might have died of...
0:06:53 > 0:06:55without leaving any children.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59Um, the other stem is the deceased father, Archibald.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02And, then we had the stem of William Fraser.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06Cyril's dad, Archie, was born in 1898,
0:07:06 > 0:07:09five years after the marriage of his parents,
0:07:09 > 0:07:11George Fraser and Sarah Poore.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17His parents had two other children, William and Ethel,
0:07:17 > 0:07:20after they married, and the team have already established
0:07:20 > 0:07:22that Ethel died without having children.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26But, the team has discovered another sibling, Elizabeth,
0:07:26 > 0:07:30who was born eight years before they married.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Unless the team can prove George was Elizabeth's father,
0:07:33 > 0:07:35she and her descendents would be half blood.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41Paternal side, we think we've got three stems.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44One of those stems is a possible half blood.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47So, the birth is a long way before the marriage.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50That being the case, that stem would not be entitled
0:07:50 > 0:07:51if we can find full blood.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56This stem is causing the team some concern.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58If they research Elizabeth's descendents,
0:07:58 > 0:08:01it could be a waste of time and resources.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05Nonetheless, Neil has decided it's worth taking a punt.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09We're working a half blood, because, uh, she's...
0:08:09 > 0:08:14the grandmother was living with the grandfather before they are married.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Um, there's a possibility of a middle name of the...
0:08:19 > 0:08:22..aunt of the deceased having...with an F.
0:08:22 > 0:08:23That F could be for Fraser,
0:08:23 > 0:08:28even though she's born and registered under Poore.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32Uh, and to cover our backs really, we're going to get it,
0:08:32 > 0:08:35work it and make contacts, and see where we go.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37The last thing we want is for one of our competitions
0:08:37 > 0:08:39to go and sign it up.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42And then, try to fight that stem through,
0:08:42 > 0:08:45and we lose half or a third of the estate.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48And early signs of this stem could be large.
0:08:50 > 0:08:55The child that was born before the marriage, Elizabeth Poore,
0:08:55 > 0:09:00she married a Harold Ricketts and has had five or six children.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02The team won't yet know
0:09:02 > 0:09:05if these children will be entitled to a share of Cyril's estate.
0:09:05 > 0:09:09They turn their attention to one other stem on the paternal side,
0:09:09 > 0:09:11that of Archie's brother, William.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16William Fraser was the deceased's uncle.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19We know that he got married to a Lily Smith.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22We know he had three children, one of whom was Ronald.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25Case manager David Pacifico has established
0:09:25 > 0:09:29William and Lily had four children, who were Cyril's cousins.
0:09:29 > 0:09:34But one died as a baby, leaving the team three stems to work up...
0:09:34 > 0:09:36Leslie, Ronald, and William.
0:09:38 > 0:09:42It doesn't take long for David to make a potential breakthrough.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45And he decides it's time to put a travelling researcher to work.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52Travelling researchers are an important part
0:09:52 > 0:09:53of the heir hunting team.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56Especially, when rival firms are right behind them,
0:09:56 > 0:09:57and time is of the essence.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01As soon as the office has located a potential heir,
0:10:01 > 0:10:04it's up to them to go and confirm the research,
0:10:04 > 0:10:05and sign up the beneficiary
0:10:05 > 0:10:08for an agreed percentage of their inheritance.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13Today, it's Bob Barrett who's out on the road, and poised for action.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18Ronald's brother, Leslie, um,
0:10:18 > 0:10:21they found a possible marriage for him in Windsor...
0:10:22 > 0:10:26..married to Margaret Thom, T-H-O-M. We don't know if this is right.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28Two children, wonder if it's worth...
0:10:28 > 0:10:30see if you can get through to see
0:10:30 > 0:10:35if Leslie is the one who was born in 1919 in Christchurch.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38Bob potentially is trying to make contact with a cousin once removed.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40I think primarily he's going to the address where we know
0:10:40 > 0:10:41the full-blood heir lives.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45But, as the search for heirs continues,
0:10:45 > 0:10:48could David's confidence be misplaced.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51I was told the death matched up with the birth, it doesn't.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53That death is wrong.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02When heir hunters take on a case,
0:11:02 > 0:11:04they never know where their research will take them.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09While some cases can be very straightforward,
0:11:09 > 0:11:12others can leave them with a mountain to climb.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14And that was the case when the team began working
0:11:14 > 0:11:16the case of Peter Lancaster.
0:11:17 > 0:11:22His unclaimed estate was advertised by the treasury's solicitors Bona Vacantia Division.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25And, case manager Mike Powell sprang into action.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29The case came out and we got it when it was first released.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31So, we had to work quickly
0:11:31 > 0:11:34cos we knew other people would get it at the same time.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36Especially all the competition was looking
0:11:36 > 0:11:38at the same cases at the same time.
0:11:38 > 0:11:39So, we had to make sure that the people were
0:11:39 > 0:11:42organised and did their research as quickly as we could.
0:11:43 > 0:11:44With a property valued
0:11:44 > 0:11:48at an estimated quarter of a million pounds, this was a valuable case,
0:11:48 > 0:11:51and Mike knew that rival firms would be hot on their heels.
0:11:59 > 0:12:04Peter Lancaster died in January 2013, age 79,
0:12:04 > 0:12:05in Hayes, West London.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07He had been a bank manager.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11Although there are no surviving photographs of Peter,
0:12:11 > 0:12:14his neighbour Nicky remembers him very clearly.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19I'd say Peter was quite a tall man.
0:12:19 > 0:12:26Very slim build, quite athletic looking, um, because he always
0:12:26 > 0:12:30rode his bike, and he always wore his racing clothes to do that as well.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34Right up until a couple of weeks before he passed away.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36He was still riding his bike.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Nicky had known Peter for about eight years,
0:12:39 > 0:12:41since moving to the same street.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44I wasn't a close neighbour to him.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48It was basically just a, "Hello, how are you?" in passing.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50Kept himself to himself.
0:12:50 > 0:12:55I never saw any sort of relatives or friends go round.
0:12:55 > 0:13:00Yeah, just a very nice, kind, quiet man.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03It seems that Peter's house had been the family home.
0:13:03 > 0:13:09I know Peter's parents had lived here since the sort of...late 1930s,
0:13:09 > 0:13:12so, they had been long term residents in the area,
0:13:12 > 0:13:18but unfortunately his parents were both passed when I came to live here.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20So, he's always lived on his own.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29Mike and the team were quickly able to confirm
0:13:29 > 0:13:31that Peter had owned the family home.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35We worked out that Peter inherited the property
0:13:35 > 0:13:38because he was living there with his mother before she died.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40Once we obtained his father's death certificate,
0:13:40 > 0:13:43he gave the same address as Peter was living at.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46So, we safely assume that they had been living there
0:13:46 > 0:13:47for a very long time.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50Therefore, it was Peter's house now that they both passed away.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53With no will or known close relatives,
0:13:53 > 0:13:56it was up to the heir hunters to find out more about Peter,
0:13:56 > 0:14:00and to track down his family before the competition.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02Their research got off to a flying start.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06We were able to quickly establish that he didn't marry
0:14:06 > 0:14:07and didn't have any children.
0:14:08 > 0:14:13Peter was born on 14 January 1934, in Hammersmith, London,
0:14:13 > 0:14:17to Herbert Hascell Lancaster and Elsie Hilda Matthews.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20With no children of his own, the next step was to find out
0:14:20 > 0:14:22whether Peter had any brothers or sisters.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29Because Peter was born 10 years after the marriage,
0:14:29 > 0:14:32we thought that there may have been some older siblings of his.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35So, we had to check that as soon as we could.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39They were able to confirm that Peter was in fact an only child,
0:14:39 > 0:14:41which meant going back two generations.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45The first thing we needed to do was locate
0:14:45 > 0:14:48the grandparents of the deceased on both sides.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50So we can then look at census records
0:14:50 > 0:14:54and determine how many brothers or sisters each parent had.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56And then, try to find descendents from them.
0:14:57 > 0:15:02Peter's grandfather on his father's side was Roland Hascell Lancaster,
0:15:02 > 0:15:05and he worked as a carman, which was an ancient trade.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09They were part of an elite group of rival tradesman who were
0:15:09 > 0:15:11granted licenses to work in the business district,
0:15:11 > 0:15:16known as the City of London during the 1800 and early 1900s.
0:15:17 > 0:15:22Carman were the equivalent of Hackney carriage drivers today,
0:15:22 > 0:15:25in so far as they could be flagged down,
0:15:25 > 0:15:28and they would move anything that needed moving.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33Known as the Worshipful Company of Carmen,
0:15:33 > 0:15:36Henry VIII gave them their first royal charter in 1517.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41Apparently, this was so that he could have all of his personal
0:15:41 > 0:15:43chattels moved free of charge.
0:15:46 > 0:15:47The royal charter made the carmen
0:15:47 > 0:15:49one of a number of livery companies
0:15:49 > 0:15:50operating in the city.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55These companies controlled the provision of services
0:15:55 > 0:15:57and selling of goods and food in the City of London.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04A livery company is a trade association that has a royal charter.
0:16:04 > 0:16:11There are 77 ancient liveries which date back pre-1517.
0:16:12 > 0:16:17And there are now 108 liveries in total with some very modern ones,
0:16:17 > 0:16:20such as IT and solicitors.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25With the boom time of the railways up to the first World War,
0:16:25 > 0:16:28and the growth of the suburbs, there was
0:16:28 > 0:16:31more demand for goods to be moved outside the city.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37So, the carmen faced fierce competition,
0:16:37 > 0:16:40as other unlicensed carts and vehicles begin to encroach
0:16:40 > 0:16:43on their territory.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46These rivals were able to deliver goods beyond the city
0:16:46 > 0:16:48quicker and cheaper.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51And, the killer blow came just before the Second World War.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56In 1933, the licensing laws were introduced,
0:16:56 > 0:16:59whereby every vehicle on our roads,
0:16:59 > 0:17:02whether it be a car or commercial vehicle,
0:17:02 > 0:17:06had to be licensed. And, they paid a road fund tax.
0:17:06 > 0:17:12And, that really then negated the need for carmen.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14And carmen then were in serious decline.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18However, in their heyday,
0:17:18 > 0:17:22there are all manner of carts delivering a wide variety of goods.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24Each saw the other as a rival,
0:17:24 > 0:17:29and all were jostling for position in that limited city square mile.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31But, we still have at least one lasting legacy
0:17:31 > 0:17:33from those ancient tradesmen.
0:17:35 > 0:17:39If a carman and a woodmonger came face to face
0:17:39 > 0:17:42in a narrow street, and couldn't pass,
0:17:42 > 0:17:45invariably it ended up with fisty cuffs.
0:17:46 > 0:17:52So, to overcome this, the Corporation introduced one-way streets.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56So, suddenly, you couldn't come face-to-face with the competition.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02The team established that Roland married Annie Merritt
0:18:02 > 0:18:06on the 2nd of August, 1884, and they had nine children together.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08They're going to have their work cut out on this one.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12Nine is quite a big family.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16Especially as they were all born relatively early,
0:18:16 > 0:18:18I think the marriage is in 1884,
0:18:18 > 0:18:21so, we've got at least four or maybe five generations
0:18:21 > 0:18:25that are going to come down just so that we can get some people
0:18:25 > 0:18:29who may be entitled to the deceased and haven't passed away.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33This discovery was going to mean a lot more work for the team,
0:18:33 > 0:18:36and with the added pressure of rival firms snapping at their heels,
0:18:36 > 0:18:38they needed to keep their focus.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42Whenever there is competition, it's important
0:18:42 > 0:18:44to contact the people first and find them.
0:18:44 > 0:18:45So, especially with a job of this size
0:18:45 > 0:18:48we had to make sure we were working hard just to make sure
0:18:48 > 0:18:50we got all the work done before the other companies.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54With an estate worth an estimated £250,000,
0:18:54 > 0:18:57would Mike and the team manage to crack the case
0:18:57 > 0:18:59and beat their rivals?
0:19:00 > 0:19:02You can only hope it is the right family.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04You trust in the research of everyone,
0:19:04 > 0:19:06and you only confirm it once you speak to them.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16Heir hunters trace thousands of rightful beneficiaries every year.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19But, not all cases can be cracked.
0:19:19 > 0:19:23There are over 10,000 estates of the treasuries Bona Vacantia list
0:19:23 > 0:19:26that have alluded the heir hunters and remained unsolved.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31There are actually two Bona Vacantia unclaimed estates list.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35There is one list which is our current list of advertised estates.
0:19:35 > 0:19:40That's updated daily. There is also an historic unclaimed list.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43That's cases that have been dealt with by the treasury solicitor,
0:19:43 > 0:19:45but we are still looking for kin to come forward and claim.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48Today, we're concentrating on
0:19:48 > 0:19:51two cases that are yet to be solved by the heir hunters.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56First is the case of Paul Shane Stewart,
0:19:56 > 0:20:02who died on 14th of January, 2007, aged 60 in Plymouth, Devon.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04Paul was also known as Vincent George Grubb,
0:20:04 > 0:20:10and had been born on the 12th of May, 1946, in Galashiels, Scotland.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15All that's known is that Paul was a bachelor.
0:20:15 > 0:20:19Could you be a relative of Paul's, entitled to a share of his estate?
0:20:19 > 0:20:23Or, do you know anything which could shed some light on his family?
0:20:24 > 0:20:26Next, do you have any clues that could help unlock
0:20:26 > 0:20:28the case of Esther Madden?
0:20:30 > 0:20:35She was a widow and died on 18th of January, 2007, aged 89,
0:20:35 > 0:20:37in Westminster, London.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43Esther was born on 4th of April, 1917, in the Irish Republic.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47She was also known as Bridget Esther Madden.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52Did you know Esther? Or, do you have any information about her family?
0:20:54 > 0:20:57Both Paul and Esther's estates remain unclaimed,
0:20:57 > 0:21:01and if no-one comes forward their money will go to the government.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05The public can get in touch with us in writing either by e-mail
0:21:05 > 0:21:08or by post, or on the phone,
0:21:08 > 0:21:11and that's how we will get in touch with them as well.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13Do you have any clues that could help solve
0:21:13 > 0:21:16the cases of Paul Stewart or Esther Madden?
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Perhaps you could be their next of kin.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23If so, you could have thousands of pounds coming your way.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33The heir hunters were up against it in the search
0:21:33 > 0:21:38for heirs to the estimated £250,000 estate of Peter Lancaster.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41The team had established that Peter was an only child,
0:21:41 > 0:21:43and had lived in the family home.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46He never married or had any children.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49After a straightforward start, the case was then blown wide open
0:21:49 > 0:21:53with the discovery that Peter's father was one of nine children.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57Born to Roland Hascell Lancaster and Anne Merritt.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00With the paternal side of the family already looking large,
0:22:00 > 0:22:03it was clear the team were going to have their work cut out.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06And, with other firms also chasing this valuable estate,
0:22:06 > 0:22:07the pressure was on.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10The first thing we had to do was obviously work out
0:22:10 > 0:22:12if they were married and they had children,
0:22:12 > 0:22:14so we can follow on their descendents.
0:22:16 > 0:22:22Peter died in January 2013, aged 79, in Hayes, Greater London.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26Although there's no surviving photograph of Peter,
0:22:26 > 0:22:29his neighbour, Nicky, remembers him well.
0:22:29 > 0:22:34Peter was quite an averagey-tall man, very sort of thin, greying hair.
0:22:34 > 0:22:39He was quite bald on the top. He was a very self sufficient man.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42He wasn't the type of neighbour that you needed
0:22:42 > 0:22:46to do the shopping for or look after, he was always so active.
0:22:47 > 0:22:51With such a valuable estate and rival firms also on the case,
0:22:51 > 0:22:54the team were under pressure to solve it as quickly as possible.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56But, they hit an early snag.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01The eldest child was a Henry Walter Hascell Lancaster
0:23:01 > 0:23:05who was born in 1895 in the Fulham registration district.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07Henry was the one who gave us
0:23:07 > 0:23:10the most problems purely because he changed his name and got married
0:23:10 > 0:23:13as Hascell, rather than Lancaster, which is a name
0:23:13 > 0:23:16that seems to be in at least part of everyone's name on his
0:23:16 > 0:23:21family tree from the top line, which made it slightly more difficult.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24This complication meant extra work for the team.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27When we located the Hascell name was popping up in most of the births.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30Obviously, we had to do two searches to make sure
0:23:30 > 0:23:33that nothing was missed. Especially, cos some of the children were born
0:23:33 > 0:23:35with the maiden name as Hascell, rather than Lancaster,
0:23:35 > 0:23:38which obviously we had to make sure everything was done properly.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40The team's research uncovered
0:23:40 > 0:23:43an interesting insight into Peter's uncle.
0:23:45 > 0:23:50On the 1911 census, Henry Lancaster was known as Walter Hascell,
0:23:50 > 0:23:54and his occupation at the time, he was working at a barber's.
0:23:54 > 0:23:58Modern day barbers are continuing a noble tradition
0:23:58 > 0:23:59that goes back centuries.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03And, barbershops have often played a valuable role in a community.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07In the earlier 20th century, barbershops
0:24:07 > 0:24:11were a hub and a meeting point for gentlemen.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14You know, they used to take a lot more pride in their appearance.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17So, going to the barbershop was actually a regular occurrence,
0:24:17 > 0:24:21not only to look sharp, but also to be shaven.
0:24:21 > 0:24:26Um, back in that era, razors weren't as good as they are today.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30So, barbers used to have the monopoly on clean shaves.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34Henry's training would have been very precise.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36Barbers would've had an apprenticeship.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39They would have served under a senior barber,
0:24:39 > 0:24:41and very similar to as we do today.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44For wet shaving they would've had a balloon
0:24:44 > 0:24:47and they would have lathered it up with the soap,
0:24:47 > 0:24:50and they would've had a razor, they'd be shaving the balloon.
0:24:50 > 0:24:55And every time they popped it, they weren't ready to shave a client.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58But there was a time when a barber would have been offering clients
0:24:58 > 0:25:01a lot more than just a shave and a haircut.
0:25:01 > 0:25:05Originally, barbers were barber-surgeons.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09They used to perform surgical acts.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12This was in the early 1300s that it started,
0:25:12 > 0:25:16and went right through until the late 1800s.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20As well as leaching and teeth extractions, another popular
0:25:20 > 0:25:25procedure of the date was an early and rather gruesome form of detox.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30Barber-surgeons use to practise blood-letting.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33Blood-letting entailed the patient
0:25:33 > 0:25:38holding hold of a rod, very tightly, so that the vein would pop out,
0:25:38 > 0:25:39their veins would pop.
0:25:39 > 0:25:43They could show, there'd be an incision with the razor,
0:25:43 > 0:25:49and blood would drain down into a brass bowl.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52Until the patient in the chair passed out.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57Unsurprisingly, most people realised that they felt worse
0:25:57 > 0:25:58after a blood-letting,
0:25:58 > 0:26:02and the procedure finally died out by the end of the 19th century.
0:26:04 > 0:26:08However, it was blood-letting that inspired the iconic barbershop pole.
0:26:08 > 0:26:13An internationally recognised symbol that still survives.
0:26:13 > 0:26:17Red is for the blood, the white is for the bandages.
0:26:17 > 0:26:22The original barbers pole was the pole which they used to grab
0:26:22 > 0:26:24when they used to blood-let,
0:26:24 > 0:26:29and the brass ball on the end was a symbol for the leeches,
0:26:29 > 0:26:32or, where the blood would run into from the blood-letting.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34They would hang the bandages outside,
0:26:34 > 0:26:37which then would be wrapped around in the wind,
0:26:37 > 0:26:41and that's the reason why we get the spiral as it is today.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44Barbers could earn a decent living for the time,
0:26:44 > 0:26:47and Henry ran his own shop in a busy part of town,
0:26:47 > 0:26:49as he supported an ever-growing family.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55In total, he and his wife, Roma, had six children.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58And for the heir hunters, tracing those six children
0:26:58 > 0:27:01and their descendents was a vital part of cracking the case.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05But with rival company snapping at their heels,
0:27:05 > 0:27:10Mike and the team couldn't afford to focus on one branch at a time.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12We worked both families at the same time.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14We have different teams of people looking at both sides.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18And we quickly established that both parents had eight siblings each.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20So, that's 16 stems in total
0:27:20 > 0:27:24which is quite a lot of work for us to undertake.
0:27:24 > 0:27:28With such huge family trees on both sides, there was no time to waste.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32And with everyone on the case, the teams efforts were soon rewarded
0:27:32 > 0:27:36by a breakthrough on Peter's father's side of the family.
0:27:36 > 0:27:41Faith Hascell Lancaster was an auntie of the deceased
0:27:41 > 0:27:43who was born in 1896 in Fulham.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45It looked like she married
0:27:45 > 0:27:47a gentleman called Frank Williams in 1921.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51The team established that Faith and Frank had one child,
0:27:51 > 0:27:55Frank Edward Williams, who would have been Peter's cousin.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58This was potentially very exciting news for the team
0:27:58 > 0:28:01as this could be their first heir.
0:28:01 > 0:28:05However, they needed to be sure and there was only one way to find out.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10Before you phone the heir, you can only hope that it's the right family.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12You trust in the research of everyone.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15You'll only confirm it once you speak to them.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19Would Mike get the confirmation he was looking for?
0:28:20 > 0:28:23When I spoke to Frank, I was very pleased that we got the right family.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26And we were the first persons to contact him.
0:28:26 > 0:28:28It was great news for the team.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31When you get to an heir and are the first one to speak to him
0:28:31 > 0:28:34and inform him of the situation, it's always a bit of a relief
0:28:34 > 0:28:37and also it pays off for the work that we've done.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43Peter's cousin Frank, also known as Ted,
0:28:43 > 0:28:46hadn't seen Peter for more than 50 years.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49But still has vivid memories of the time they spent
0:28:49 > 0:28:51together in their youth in the '60s.
0:28:55 > 0:28:57We used to go cycling together.
0:28:57 > 0:29:00And I remember he had a very bright, red bicycle
0:29:00 > 0:29:02and off we used to go.
0:29:02 > 0:29:04But as the poor man suffered from agoraphobia,
0:29:04 > 0:29:06we used to get about two miles
0:29:06 > 0:29:09and then he'd say, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
0:29:09 > 0:29:13"I can't travel any further. I've got to cycle home now."
0:29:15 > 0:29:18But it seems that Peter's agoraphobia fed his imagination
0:29:18 > 0:29:21and desire to travel.
0:29:21 > 0:29:25He had a yacht and it was tied up somewhere, I never went on it.
0:29:26 > 0:29:28I said, "What have you got in the chart room?"
0:29:28 > 0:29:30Cos I didn't think he had a chart room.
0:29:30 > 0:29:35He said, "Oh, I've got a map of London and I got a London Underground."
0:29:35 > 0:29:37I said, "Well, that's not much use on a yacht, is it?"
0:29:37 > 0:29:41"Oh, yes, it is," he said, "Cos suppose there's an earthquake
0:29:41 > 0:29:44"and all the tubes are flooded with water
0:29:44 > 0:29:47"I could sail from station to station
0:29:47 > 0:29:52"and then the announcer can say, 'Stand back from the platform edge.
0:29:52 > 0:29:56"'Yacht approaching. Get the jolly jack tyres off first'."
0:29:56 > 0:29:59And he liked a little, sort of, quiet joke like that.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04Bringing back those early stories
0:30:04 > 0:30:06also highlights a sense of regret for Ted.
0:30:07 > 0:30:11It was very foolish of me to lose contact, really.
0:30:11 > 0:30:15When all these cycling expeditions, we had about eight of them,
0:30:15 > 0:30:20I suppose, didn't seem to get anywhere, we sort of drifted apart.
0:30:20 > 0:30:24And I don't think I ever saw him again.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27Although they didn't see each other, Peter had kept in touch
0:30:27 > 0:30:29with his early cycling companion.
0:30:29 > 0:30:33He sent me a Christmas card but regrettably, I threw away.
0:30:33 > 0:30:37And on it he said, rather quirky it was, he said,
0:30:37 > 0:30:40"I've still got my boat. And I've still got my bike."
0:30:40 > 0:30:42And that's all it said.
0:30:43 > 0:30:47And Ted has mixed feelings about his legacy.
0:30:47 > 0:30:51As I'm a close relation and I will inherit some money, obviously,
0:30:51 > 0:30:56it's nice. But I would rather the poor man to be alive and happy.
0:30:56 > 0:31:01He should have spent it himself. And I don't think he ever married.
0:31:01 > 0:31:05And it's a pity. Surely, there was some lady out there somewhere
0:31:05 > 0:31:09that would have understood that he suffered from agoraphobia
0:31:09 > 0:31:13because he had a nice personality and he was a kind man.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16Ted was able to give the team a wealth of information
0:31:16 > 0:31:19to help fill in some of the gaps in the family tree.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22He also agreed that the company would help him
0:31:22 > 0:31:24submit his claim to the treasury.
0:31:24 > 0:31:28And that he would pay them an agreed percentage of his inheritance.
0:31:28 > 0:31:30Ted was the first of many heirs
0:31:30 > 0:31:35and over the next few days the team were able to pin them down.
0:31:35 > 0:31:37On this case, there's over 60 heirs
0:31:37 > 0:31:39which we've managed to sign over half of.
0:31:39 > 0:31:43So, considering the amount of competition we had
0:31:43 > 0:31:45from more than one company,
0:31:45 > 0:31:48we are relatively pleased that we managed to get
0:31:48 > 0:31:51over half of the estate. It's a pretty good result for us.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54And for Peter's cousin Ted,
0:31:54 > 0:31:59the knowledge of his inheritance has sparked some heartfelt reflection.
0:31:59 > 0:32:02Looking back, I feel rather sad that I didn't go
0:32:02 > 0:32:07and visit Ted, even if we didn't go anywhere or we just went locally.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10Yes, I do feel sad that I didn't keep in touch.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13But it's, erm, rather too late now.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16Isn't hindsight a wonderful thing?
0:32:26 > 0:32:29In London, the Heir Hunters are busy trying to find heirs to the
0:32:29 > 0:32:33estate of Cyril Fraser, which they believe is valuable
0:32:33 > 0:32:35as it's known he had a property.
0:32:35 > 0:32:39They're working only the paternal side of the tree
0:32:39 > 0:32:42having established that the maternal side of the family has died out.
0:32:44 > 0:32:49Cyril's mum, Edith, was an only child born in 1897 to Ellen Rose
0:32:49 > 0:32:52and Robert Henry Bills, who worked as a French polisher
0:32:52 > 0:32:56who worked in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
0:32:56 > 0:33:00A trade which had been introduced into this country in around 1820.
0:33:07 > 0:33:11French polishing is the application of shellac to the surface of wood.
0:33:11 > 0:33:16And shellac is a natural substance. It comes from the lac beetle.
0:33:16 > 0:33:22And it's, in principle, very simple, it's applying a coating of shellac
0:33:22 > 0:33:26using methyl denatured alcohol to the surface of the work.
0:33:26 > 0:33:28The meth evaporates and dries
0:33:28 > 0:33:30and you're left with a coating of shellac.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33A good, hard, bright coating. And it's very attractive.
0:33:35 > 0:33:37It may sound easy, but traditionally,
0:33:37 > 0:33:41a French polisher would take up to five years to learn his trade.
0:33:41 > 0:33:43And building up just the perfect finish
0:33:43 > 0:33:45needs patience as well as skill.
0:33:46 > 0:33:50I suppose, if I was polishing a table or something like that,
0:33:50 > 0:33:52I'd allow a couple of weeks
0:33:52 > 0:33:55to finish the work and do other things in between.
0:33:55 > 0:33:57So, I keep coming back to it and do a little bit more.
0:33:57 > 0:34:00Do a little bit more. Build the finish.
0:34:00 > 0:34:05It's slow. It's not...it doesn't have the advantages of a modern finishes
0:34:05 > 0:34:08where the finish can be built quickly and cheaply.
0:34:08 > 0:34:10And it can also be sprayed. French polish is a hand-finish.
0:34:10 > 0:34:15It's a slow finish, but it's the best finish.
0:34:15 > 0:34:17For Cyril's grandfather, Robert,
0:34:17 > 0:34:19it would have been a good trade to be in.
0:34:19 > 0:34:23If you knew how to French polish, you'd be doing very well
0:34:23 > 0:34:24and people sought you out.
0:34:24 > 0:34:28He'd certainly be respected for it. It's a respectable job.
0:34:33 > 0:34:37In the office, the team is working two paternal stems.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40One of which is Cyril's Aunt Elizabeth.
0:34:40 > 0:34:43I've got a Dorothy L. from your end
0:34:43 > 0:34:48Probably married a Hall. James F. Hall.
0:34:48 > 0:34:53There's quite a few of King. King-Ricketts or Hall-Ricketts. What do we fancy?
0:34:54 > 0:34:57The team had found she married a Harold Ricketts
0:34:57 > 0:34:59and had three children.
0:34:59 > 0:35:02They've since died, but between them they had six children.
0:35:04 > 0:35:11This stem here, although we're going to have five, 10, 11 others,
0:35:11 > 0:35:14I don't think they'll be entitled.
0:35:14 > 0:35:16Despite working up Elizabeth's stem,
0:35:16 > 0:35:19the team is not sure her grandchildren will be entitled
0:35:19 > 0:35:21to a share of Cyril's estate.
0:35:21 > 0:35:25She was born illegitimately and at this stage, they have no proof
0:35:25 > 0:35:28she was a full-blood sister which could mean,
0:35:28 > 0:35:32all the time spent researching her family has been for nothing.
0:35:32 > 0:35:34But the team have decided to take a gamble
0:35:34 > 0:35:36and work up the family anyway.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39And they have travelling researcher, Bob,
0:35:39 > 0:35:41poised to go and visit potential heirs.
0:35:41 > 0:35:44It's a risky strategy as anyone they find,
0:35:44 > 0:35:48may not be entitled to a share of the estate after all.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54We'd rather be honest with the beneficiaries early on,
0:35:54 > 0:35:56sign them up and then tell them
0:35:56 > 0:35:58that they're coming on a half-blood stem
0:35:58 > 0:36:01and that it's possible they're not going to be entitled.
0:36:01 > 0:36:05That way we're not giving them any illusions that they may be entitled
0:36:05 > 0:36:11to fortunes when it's a small estate and they're half blood.
0:36:12 > 0:36:16But secondly, we're not going to be caught out
0:36:16 > 0:36:21if someone else signs them up and we've missed it.
0:36:21 > 0:36:25The team are also busy working up the stem of Cyril's Uncle William.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29He married a Lily Smith and the couple had four children.
0:36:29 > 0:36:33One of whom died as a minor and another without having children.
0:36:35 > 0:36:38They are also trying to establish what happened to Leslie
0:36:38 > 0:36:41and Ronald, Cyril's first cousins.
0:36:42 > 0:36:46The team have found a marriage for Leslie and a possible son
0:36:46 > 0:36:48and given Bob the details.
0:36:48 > 0:36:51But suddenly that research is thrown into doubt.
0:36:53 > 0:36:59- There's his dad. We think he died in 1928.- OK.
0:36:59 > 0:37:01Have you found a Leslie F? Not C.
0:37:01 > 0:37:03But there's no birth of a Leslie F. that might be...
0:37:03 > 0:37:04Where in, Christchurch?
0:37:04 > 0:37:06In Bournemouth, wasn't it?
0:37:06 > 0:37:10- Derek?- Yeah.- Bournemouth. I think...I think he's died off.- OK.
0:37:10 > 0:37:12Yeah, I saw that last night and I wasn't sure, though.
0:37:15 > 0:37:18Time to update Bob with the new findings.
0:37:18 > 0:37:20Hi, Bob, just checking in.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24We think his Uncle Leslie may have died age 9.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27So, there may be just, well, there's a question mark
0:37:27 > 0:37:31about the second initial, but I think he died off young.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34With every other stem of the Fraser family leading to a dead end,
0:37:34 > 0:37:37the team's only chance of finding a full-blood heir
0:37:37 > 0:37:40to the Cyril's estate is through his cousin Ronald.
0:37:41 > 0:37:43We've still got Ronald F. Fraser outstanding.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46We got a possibility he could have died elsewhere.
0:37:46 > 0:37:50The possibility that he could have gotten married out of the area completely.
0:37:50 > 0:37:55But we don't know.
0:37:55 > 0:37:59But trying to find him is not easy. As researchers Joe and David
0:37:59 > 0:38:03try to tie in birth and marriage certificates.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05That's the only Ron F. Fraser birth
0:38:05 > 0:38:07and these are the three marriages for Ron F.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09You still think that matches up, though?
0:38:09 > 0:38:13And it's a frustrating search as David has spotted
0:38:13 > 0:38:15what he thinks could be a fundamental mistake.
0:38:17 > 0:38:21I was told the death matched up with the birth. It doesn't.
0:38:21 > 0:38:22That death is wrong.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25Now, that marriage you could say it could well be correct.
0:38:25 > 0:38:27When you look at that death, it doesn't time with the birth
0:38:27 > 0:38:30and that's plain Ronald. He was born as Ronald F.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34That death is no good.
0:38:34 > 0:38:38The birth date on the death index of the Ronald Fraser they were tracking
0:38:38 > 0:38:42doesn't match up with the birth date of the Ronald Fraser they found.
0:38:42 > 0:38:44It's a blow for the team.
0:38:44 > 0:38:48And David gets straight onto the local register office.
0:38:48 > 0:38:51It's a vital he gets details from death certificates
0:38:51 > 0:38:52if he's to finish this last stem.
0:38:54 > 0:38:57Yes, I'm speaking from London regarding a death that we're
0:38:57 > 0:38:59trying urgently to obtain.
0:38:59 > 0:39:01We need...we really need it this afternoon.
0:39:01 > 0:39:03Or at least the informants.
0:39:03 > 0:39:05Thank you very much, indeed. Thank you.
0:39:11 > 0:39:16You definitely haven't got it, yeah? It's not at Bournemouth.
0:39:16 > 0:39:19Bournemouth haven't got that death.
0:39:19 > 0:39:22Finally, though, their persistence pays off.
0:39:22 > 0:39:25They find a will for a Ronald Fraser.
0:39:25 > 0:39:27David gets straight on the phone
0:39:27 > 0:39:30to see if he can find out if it's their man.
0:39:30 > 0:39:34I believe you were the executor of the late Ronald Fraser
0:39:34 > 0:39:35who died in 2008.
0:39:35 > 0:39:39Basically, were trying to find out whether Ronald Fraser may have
0:39:39 > 0:39:42had any close family, for example, children.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45He died Christmas Day, 2008.
0:39:45 > 0:39:48It's the breakthrough they've been hoping for.
0:39:48 > 0:39:52We think Ronald Fraser may have had at least one son called Roy.
0:39:53 > 0:39:57We've now found an address for Roy. Hopefully, this is right.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59This son would be a full-blood heir.
0:39:59 > 0:40:03And would be entitled ahead of any half blood relatives.
0:40:04 > 0:40:07But until they've spoken to him, the team can't be certain
0:40:07 > 0:40:10he is definitely the heir they have been looking for.
0:40:15 > 0:40:18The following morning the team pick up their research
0:40:18 > 0:40:21and discovered Ronald actually had two sons.
0:40:21 > 0:40:23Both of whom would be full-blood heirs.
0:40:25 > 0:40:28Bob Barrett has spoken to the wife of one of them
0:40:28 > 0:40:32who's away till the end of the week. We're now writing to the two heirs.
0:40:32 > 0:40:38We've now found the real beneficiaries, that's the main thing.
0:40:38 > 0:40:40The team are now confident that Ronald's sons
0:40:40 > 0:40:43are the only heirs to Cyril's valuable estate.
0:40:43 > 0:40:49And the research they did into the half blood stem of the family has been put to one side.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52Go on, smile a bit more there. Good.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55Roy is one of those beneficiaries.
0:40:55 > 0:40:56A professional photographer.
0:40:56 > 0:41:01He is the elder of Ronald's two sons who are both Cyril's heirs.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04He's Cyril's cousin once removed.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06I never met Cyril myself.
0:41:06 > 0:41:10I only heard about Cyril from a story my mother told me
0:41:10 > 0:41:14about a meeting that was called in Ringwood at Cyril's house
0:41:14 > 0:41:16where the whole family,
0:41:16 > 0:41:18my grandfather and uncles and the rest of it,
0:41:18 > 0:41:21went up in all their Sunday best for a meeting.
0:41:21 > 0:41:24They arrived and were given a schooner of sherry.
0:41:24 > 0:41:28And they sat down and had a chat for a very few seconds it seemed,
0:41:28 > 0:41:31according to my mother, before the sherry was taken off them
0:41:31 > 0:41:32and they were told,
0:41:32 > 0:41:35"That's it. Thanks for coming," and off they went.
0:41:35 > 0:41:37It was the only time, I think,
0:41:37 > 0:41:39Cyril has been mentioned to me in my lifetime.
0:41:39 > 0:41:43Roy was caught unawares by the news of his inheritance.
0:41:43 > 0:41:47I was actually in Jersey at the time. I was shooting landscapes.
0:41:47 > 0:41:50I was on a beach in the middle of nowhere.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53And this guy called up and I was listening to him
0:41:53 > 0:41:57and I didn't realise the tide was coming in
0:41:57 > 0:42:00as I was so taken aback by the whole thing.
0:42:00 > 0:42:04I phoned my brother. So, later that day we met in a pub in Jersey
0:42:04 > 0:42:07and talked it over as just like, "What a shame we never met him."
0:42:07 > 0:42:11Hearing that he's an heir has raised a number of questions for Roy.
0:42:12 > 0:42:18Getting a call about you having an inheritance, it is very strange.
0:42:18 > 0:42:20That's why I was stopped in my tracks.
0:42:20 > 0:42:24Just thinking how did you find out about me. I mean, Cyril, who's he?
0:42:24 > 0:42:27You know, and all the rest of it. All these sort of questions.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30Then you start thinking about how come we didn't know about Cyril.
0:42:30 > 0:42:34So, yes, it's all a bit of a surprise hearing something like that.
0:42:34 > 0:42:35It's now a few weeks later.
0:42:35 > 0:42:39And although both Roy and his brother have signed up with the company,
0:42:39 > 0:42:44there is a vital piece of information still outstanding for case manager David.
0:42:44 > 0:42:45We don't have value of the estate
0:42:45 > 0:42:49but we know that it's got an interest in a property.
0:42:49 > 0:42:52So, there is definitely value on this estate.
0:42:53 > 0:42:57And for heir Roy, the whole process has brought unexpected
0:42:57 > 0:43:00emotions to the surface.
0:43:00 > 0:43:02In a way, it's very sad because, obviously, he's a Fraser.
0:43:02 > 0:43:05It would have been quite nice to have met up with him.
0:43:05 > 0:43:09And, you know, yeah, it does seem a shame now that the only time
0:43:09 > 0:43:13we know about it is when he's...he's gone.