The much-anticipated National Will Register annual will writing report was published recently, and as ever, its findings make for interesting reading.

Whilst the headlines will no doubt focus on the statistic that just 37% of the 2,000 adults surveyed actually had a will in place, there are other interesting insights and trends emerging, such as 36% of people being comfortable with the concept of having a ‘digital will’.

Changing Attitudes to Will Writing in the UK

In fact, the report covers plenty of traditional and more technology-led questions around will writing in the UK, highlighting how attitudes and expectations are beginning to change. That said, over half of those with a will had used the services of either a solicitor or a will writer, with just 14% relying on a ‘DIY’ will writing option.

Perhaps as expected, older generations were more likely to have succession plans in place, with only 20% of respondents aged 18 to 24 currently holding a will. Although the overall number of people with a will decreased compared to the previous year, 34% of respondents said they intended to write one within the next 12 months – a significant proportion.

Maybe the most worrying aspect of the report was the fact that 25% of people advised that they didn’t actually know how to write a will. This suggests that despite continued efforts to raise awareness of will writing across the country, some were still not getting – or listening to – the message.

More positively, the report revealed a noticeable increase in the amount of people now comfortable in talking about death with their loved ones, representing a sizeable 8% increase against last year.

Lastly, on the question of where a will is stored, 25% said that they kept their will at home, with half giving the responsibility to their solicitor or will writer. Rather worryingly, 29% of people haven’t told anyone where their will is stored.

The link to download this report directly can be found here: https://www.oneadvanced.com/campaigns/legal/the-national-wills-report-2025/

How Anglia Research Can Help

As a probate genealogy firm, we can of course assist in cases where there is a will AND where there is not.

𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹: We can trace missing beneficiaries who have been named in a will that can’t be located, whether that’s a straightforward address check or a more complex case requiring international research.

𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝘄𝗶ll: We are extremely well-versed in dealing with intestate matters. We offer probate practitioners help and assistance, whether verifying a family tree and establishing entitlement, or giving other support around the rules of intestacy.

Do get in contact us to find out more.

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Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) marks Japan’s surrender to the Allied forces and the end of the Second World War. This year is the 80th anniversary of that historic moment.

Across the UK, many events are taking place to commemorate the occasion. Buckingham Palace have announced that King Charles III will address the nation, while the Royal British Legion will host a National Commemorative Event at the National Memorial Arboretum. The day will see 400 Armed Forces members in attendance, a Red Arrows flypast, and live performances by military bands.

As we celebrate this milestone, we also pause to remember the lives lost. There were more than 90,000 British casualties in the conflict with Japan, and over a third of them were held as prisoners of war.

One of the most tragic episodes was the sinking of the Lisbon Maru in 1942, a Japanese freighter carrying over 1,800 prisoners of war from Hong Kong to Shanghai and Japan. Unaware that British and Commonwealth soldiers were onboard, a US Navy submarine torpedoed the ship. In the chaos, Chinese fishermen gallantly risked their own lives under open fire to rescue survivors.

Many of the 828 soldiers who lost their lives originated from Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. Anglia Research Services Ltd played a key role in tracing the descendants of those who lost their lives, and our work was featured in the documentary film “The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru.” Our team of probate genealogists were able to locate the living relatives of the prisoners who had been on board and allowed them to attend the premiere of the documentary.

We are honoured to share that the film will be available to view from today, only in the UK and Ireland.
You can watch the film here: “The Sinking of The Lisbon Maru” Watch Online

On this 80th anniversary of VJ Day, we remember not only the victory, but the sacrifices and courage of all who served and suffered during the Second World War.

 

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What began as a curious garden find has now blossomed into a touching piece of local family history.

When gardener Adam Elshaw discovered a pristine letter dated 21st January 1955 under an acer tree in a Wolverhampton Garden, he had no idea it would connect him – and us – to a love story nearly 70 years old.

The letter, typed on paper from Ashleigh Court in Torquay, was addressed to JR Gwilt Esquire of Stafford Road, Fordhouses. It outlined hotel rates for a stay, including meals, and appeared to respond to a booking enquiry. How it ended up buried beneath a tree, untouched by time, was a mystery.

Or at least it was, thanks to the team at Anglia Research and the work of one of our genealogists, the mystery has now been solved.

After reading this article in passing on a train journey, our Head of Probate Richard Tinkler knew this was exactly the kind of thing we could help with. He passed the story to our Regional Head, Eileen Lavelle, who set to solving it.

The letter was written to John Raymond Gwilt, born in 1933, and it turns out it was part of the arrangements for his honeymoon with Barbara Mary Lawley. The couple married on 4th April 1955 and the timing of the letter lines up perfectly with their plans.

Their son, David John Gwilt, confirmed the details after being sent a photo of the letter by his sister, Jane via WhatsApp. He responded:

“I am absolutely sure my father was arranging accommodation for my parents’ honeymoon – the dates match up. I know that their honeymoon was in the Torbay area.”

David and his sister Jane were delighted to learn the letter had been discovered, as well as surprised at how quickly the story had travelled.

The address on the letter 501 Stafford Road, Wolverhampton. It matched that of John Raymond Gwilt’s parents, Major Harry Gwilt and Lily Gwilt (née Dalton), who were recorded as living there in 1939. It was the address of the flat above the family butchers shop established by Harry & Lily, John continued the family business for decades (photo below).

How the letter ended up under a tree in Tettenhall remains a mystery. It may have been tucked away in an attic and slipped from a moving box or van as the property changed hands. The house has changed ownership three times since David Gwilt’s parents lived there.

What is clear now is that it was never just a random scrap of old paper – it was a preserved memory from the early days of a marriage that would last a lifetime.

“Our parents and grandparents were very kind people, and it’s wonderful that their memory can be honoured in this way.”

We’re grateful to the Gwilt family for allowing us to share their story and to Adam for recognising the letter’s significance. It’s not every day you uncover a honeymoon booking from the 1950s in someone’s flower bed.

By Chloe Pipe

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Episode four of the BBC podcast series “The Grave Robbers” airs on Wednesday 30^th July 2025. The series follows the investigative journalist Sue Mitchell as she tracks down fraudsters who were able to take advantage of systemic weaknesses to claim estates that were never theirs, leaving rightful heirs omitted.

The team here at Anglia Research has been instrumental in the podcast, providing details of three of the cases that form part of the series so far. In fact, it was our founder, Peter Turvey, who first approached Sue Mitchell with the troubling story.

“I contacted the BBC investigative journalist Sue Mitchell, whose work I knew from an impressive radio series about the misuse of Powers of Attorney. She was immediately keen to take it on, and I passed all my information on to her and then worked closely with her on continuing investigatory work.”

“There’s a slackness in the online system which the fraudsters have manipulated to their benefit.”

As the investigation gathered pace and concerns mounted over how estate details were being sourced, the Government Legal Department temporarily suspended the publication of the Bona Vacantia list (also known as the Unclaimed Estates list) on 7th July 2025.

When someone dies without a valid will and with no known relatives, their estate – if valued at £500 or more – is added to the unclaimed estates list. We have written previously about the Bona Vacantia list. As of 28^th July 2025, the list is yet to be republished, and a backlog of new cases is growing daily.

The temporary suspension has prompted serious reflection within the legal sector about how best to protect the vulnerable and prevent fraud in an increasingly digital world. It’s important to note, however, that not all the cases we identified originated from the Bona Vacantia list. This is an important detail that has been somewhat lost as the story has developed.

Importantly, the instructed work we undertake for solicitors and other legal professionals is entirely unaffected. We continue to operate as normal, and new instructions can be submitted in the usual way.

The podcast highlights the key role played by probate genealogists in unearthing unusual activity with their years of experience, keen eyes for detail, and having a professional instinct for when something doesn’t seem right.

“Anglia Research’s reputation for integrity and competence has been enhanced further and every day we are seeing new referrals from within the legal world.” Says Peter.

For more information on any part of this article or to discuss any other matter, please do get in contact with us.

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In a recent article for the ‘Deputyship Matters’ publication, we outlined how genealogical research extends far beyond supporting the administration of estates.

In Court of Protection cases, where clients often can’t provide details about their family or finances, we assist deputies and solicitors by locating relatives, verifying family trees, conducting statutory will research, and uncovering hidden assets.

Discreet, precise, and people-focused, this work helps ensure informed decisions are made on behalf of those who need protection most.

Court of Protection professionals work with clients who are unable to provide clear or reliable information about their families or financial affairs, and that’s where we come in. This is a crucial but often overlooked area in which genealogical research plays a key role. Our work can prove to be an important part of the puzzle, providing invaluable insights.

Read our full article in the most recent edition of Deputyship Matters, published by The Professional Deputies Forum.

Genealogy for the Living: Supporting Court of Protection Professionals

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Regularly reviewing and updating contact details within a will is best practice. Failure to do so can create significant challenges when the time comes to administer an estate, leading to unnecessary delays, increased costs, and potential disputes.

The Risks of Outdated Information

Many testators prepare their will years – sometimes decades – before they pass away. Over time, beneficiaries and executors may move, change names due to marriage or divorce, or become seemingly unreachable for other reasons. If their details are outdated, the probate process can become more complex with executors struggling to locate beneficiaries, leading to delays in distributing assets.

Similarly, if an executor cannot be found (or is no longer willing or able to act), it can lead to administrative complications. The absence of an appointed representative may result in the need for a court application to appoint a new executor, adding further costs and time delays to the estate administration process.

The Benefits of Regularly Reviewing Beneficiary and Executor Details

To avoid these pitfalls, estate planners and will writers should encourage their clients to regularly review and update their wills, ensuring that beneficiary and executor details remain current. The benefits of this proactive approach include:

• Smoother Estate Administration – Executors can locate and contact beneficiaries more easily, allowing for a more efficient distribution of assets.
• Reduced Risk of Disputes – If there are ambiguities in locating beneficiaries, disputes may arise among family members, potentially leading to contested probate proceedings.
• Ensuring the Testator’s Wishes Are Honoured – Keeping details updated helps ensure that intended beneficiaries receive their inheritance as per the testator’s wishes.

How Anglia Research Can Assist

At Anglia Research, we specialise in tracing missing beneficiaries and executors, helping to resolve potentially complex probate cases efficiently. Our expertise in people-tracing ensures that estates are administered correctly and that the rightful heirs are identified and contacted.

However, while our services can assist when issues arise, a proactive approach remains the best strategy. By encouraging clients to update their wills regularly and verify the details of those included, estate planners, will writers, and private client solicitors can help mitigate many of the challenges that arise when information is outdated.

A Comprehensive Approach to Probate Research

Updating beneficiary and executor details is just one of the many ways in which probate genealogists can assist in the estate administration process. From verifying family trees, finding missing beneficiaries, and undertaking asset and bankruptcy searches, our services are designed to streamline the probate process and ensure that estates are distributed as efficiently as possible.

To learn more about the full range of probate research services we offer, contact us today.

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The film recently premiered in UK cinemas to considerable national media attention, including coverage on ITV News, and will now be shown in Suffolk.

The documentary recounts the tragic story of the Lisbon Maru, a Japanese transport ship carrying over 1,800 British and Commonwealth prisoners of war during the Second World War.

In 1942, unaware of the prisoners on board, a United States submarine torpedoed the vessel off the coast of Zhoushan, China. The film captures the harrowing aftermath, as hundreds of men were trapped below deck, and highlights the extraordinary bravery of local Chinese fishermen who risked their lives to rescue survivors.

Drawing on rare archival material, survivor testimonies, and expert analysis, the documentary offers a moving tribute to those who suffered and those who showed remarkable courage.

As a Suffolk-based genealogical research firm, the producers approached us to assist in tracing living relatives of the prisoners who had been on board. Many of the prisoners were drawn from Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk regiments. Our team successfully located families across the UK and as far afield as New Zealand. Several of the relatives traced through our research were subsequently able to attend the film’s premiere, contributing to the historical record and personal narrative surrounding the tragedy.

A special screening of The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru will be held at Offton & Willisham Village Hall in Suffolk on 11 April 2025, with proceeds supporting the Lisbon Maru Memorial Association.

Tickets are priced at £5 and can be purchased via www.ticketsource.co.uk (search for Offton & Willisham Village Hall) or by emailing bookings@owvillagehall.co.uk.

For further details about our involvement in this important project, please see our previous article about an exclusive screening in London last year.

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A BBC news story in early November 2024, reporting a dilapidated grave belonging to Edward Price had been restored by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), piqued the interest of our self-confessed ‘nosy researcher’, Eileen Lavelle, enough for her to look into it.

Eileen has been with us for over 16 years, first as a Case Manager and later as Regional Head. Before that, she worked as a complex caseworker for the Department for Work and Pensions and for many years in the local studies department of Manchester Central Library. After reading the BBC article, Eileen began researching the case on her lunch break!

Photo courtesy of COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION

BBC’s Paul Burnell reported that although the CWGC had completed replacing the entire gravestone (which had fallen into disrepair), none of his relatives were present at its unveiling because, despite their efforts, they had been unable to locate any.

Established in 1917 during World War I, the CWGC was created by the British government and Commonwealth nations to oversee the graves of soldiers who died in the conflict. The objective was to guarantee that every soldier received a dignified burial and memorial and that all graves were honoured equally, irrespective of rank or wealth. The CWGC operates under the principle of ‘equality in death’. Their responsibilities include grave maintenance of over 1.7 million graves worldwide, commemoration/war memorial management, record keeping and collaboration with international governments, military organisations, and local communities.

Despite an effort to find Pte Price’s family via records and an appeal by CWGC, none had been located.

Pte Price served in the Manchester Regiment, 11^th Battalion, the ‘Wigan Pals Battalion’, and was buried at Leigh Cemetery in Lancashire. This was known, as well as that he had a wife, Martha, and four children.

This case was local and important to Eileen, so she began digging.

I thought this was so sad that no family knew about this for a war hero. I resolved to use my genealogical skills to see if I could trace anyone.

I traced the WW1 military service record, medical record and pension record, which told me that he had married Martha at Leigh Register Office in 1906 and the names and dates of birth of their four children, a boy and three girls -Tom, Nellie, Maggie and Ada.”

Eileen Lavelle

Armed with this knowledge and after further research, Eileen uncovered 18 living descendants, most still living in the Atherton area. She contacted the ones she could, informing them about their Great-Great-Grandfather (or Great-Grandfather in some cases). Many had never heard of Pte Price, or knew of him but not his story.

With the consent of Pte Price’s family, we contacted Paul Burnell at the BBC. Paul followed up on the story with the new information we had gathered. It was published on Boxing Day 2024, the anniversary of Edward Price’s death.

The family now has a place to honour their war hero ancestor, and they are very moved by his story.

His great-granddaughter, Bethaney Lord, said, “I never had any idea of him—nobody in the family had ever talked about it. Boxing Day will always have a special meaning from now on and Remembrance Day is going to be a lot more significant in our lives.”

If you found this article interesting, you might enjoy reading these:

https://www.angliaresearch.co.uk/a-christmas-letter-from-the-western-front/

https://www.angliaresearch.co.uk/finding-next-of-kin-for-sas-men-of-ww2/

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Following nominations by staff at the end of 2023, we are proud to announce the beginning of our next two-year charity partnership with Barnardo’s, beginning on September 1^st, 2024, following the charity’s recent rebrand earlier in the year.

Anglia Research is thrilled to announce a two-year partnership with Barnardo’s, one of the UK’s leading children’s charities, nominating them as our chosen charity for 2024-2026. This collaboration underscores our commitment to making a meaningful impact as part of our ESG policy with a charity close to our heart.

Why Barnardo’s?

Our connection with Barnardo’s has been long-standing: there are many occasions that our researchers have reached out to Barnardo’s for assistance in locating next-of-kin for deceased people who, as children, were in their care.

Barnardo’s was founded over 150 years ago by Thomas John Barnardo, an Irish national who came to London to become a doctor. What he saw when he arrived was a poverty-stricken city with slums and children facing hardship every day. So, in 1867, he set up a ‘Ragged School’ where children could get a free basic education. Over the years, Barnardo’s extended the level of care to providing residential, educational, and emotional support for any child. Their ethic of ‘never turning a child away’ stands to this day.

When we contacted our staff in late 2023 for their input on which charity we should support, Irish Regional Manager Matt Stewart was able to give several reasons why Barnardo’s was a great choice:

“One charity that I have, at times, found essential in solving cases has been Barnardo’s. They keep good records of the children in their care and have been supportive when approached.”

Key Initiatives

1. Fundraising Campaigns: Anglia Research commits to giving our staff events a ‘charity edge’ and providing opportunities to raise funds for Barnardo’s. Events include in-house raffles, sponsored challenges, and individually driven projects.
2. Employee Donations: Our employees can contribute directly to Bernardo’s charity shop donations through structured ‘one-stop-drops’ for goods at our main offices. This initiative will allow our team to personally engage with the charity’s work, fostering a deeper connection with the cause.
3. Awareness Campaigns: Anglia Research will commit to raising awareness about the issues faced by vulnerable children in the UK. This will involve social media campaigns and live events. We commit to raising awareness wherever we can.

Our first campaign

Our two-year partnership with Barnardo’s is kicked off with our first fundraising initiative. All staff can win an extra day of annual leave through our in-house raffle – and for just £3 a ticket!

At Barnardo’s, we’re thrilled by this partnership and what it will mean to the lives of children and young people across the UK.

The lives of children today are hugely impacted by the ongoing impact of Covid, the cost-of-living crisis and the fact that much of their lives are increasingly taking place online. More children are living in poverty, struggling with their mental health or feeling unsafe – but we’re here to help children live happier, healthier and safer lives.

We rely on the support of organisations like Anglia Research to continue delivering support to children, young people and families, so thank you to everyone who chose us to be your new charity partner.

Lucy MacDonald Connolly, Corporate Relationship Manager at Barnardo’s.

Follow our progress via our ESG website page and follow us on LinkedIn.

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Recently we were featured in a short documentary surrounding the King’s Plate, produced by Your Southport about the extraordinary lengths our researchers go to get to the facts about myths. The research was conducted for The Atkinson, Southport’s home for music, theatre, art, literature and history.

In their collection, which holds over 3,500 artworks and over 25,000 pieces of social history, was a plate rumoured to have been used by a King. But which one? And when? And how did it come to be in the collection?

Watch below to find out.

As you can see, our work is for all kinds of clients and takes us to all kinds of places.

1. We don’t just look at birth, marriage, and death certificates; our research stretches to museums, letters, newspapers, archives, books, ledgers, company records, census records—the list is endless.
2. We can help anyone unravel a long-held myth.
3. We present all of the evidence, leaving no stone unturned. We might not be able to prove a story conclusively, but we will be able to guide you to your own decision.

To read the full story, see this post on The Atkinson website.

If you have a story you’d like to unravel, contact us at Info@angliaresearch.co.uk.

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