A GENEROUS man has bequeathed £170,000 to a Kidderminster Hospice in his will as a thank you for the care and support they gave him and his wife.

Albert Mills left the huge donation to Kemp Hospice for the care staff gave his wife Audrey, who was diagnosed with cancer before she sadly passed away in 2003.

Mr Mills died on October 14 last year and his solicitor and acting executor Marion Evans, of Marion Evans Solicitors in Bewdley, contacted Kemp to inform them of his bequest.

Ms Evans said: “Both Mr and Mrs Mills had been clients of my practice for some years.

“They had no children and when she was diagnosed with cancer they were both very appreciative of the help offered by Kemp.

“Mr Mills was a very quiet, gentle, courteous man who had spent his early years on a farm and very much enjoyed walking in the countryside and, after his wife’s death, he wished Kemp Hospice to benefit from his estate and left, after remembering some relatives and friends, half of the residue of his estate to the charity.”

While Government funding for Kemp has reduced over the past few years, the hospice continues to see an increase in demand.

All Kemp’s services are provided free of charge and delivered by a skilled clinical team, with the Hospice needing to raise £940,000 annually to continue to provide services - the majority of which is raised through voluntary donations and the support of the community.

Kemp Hospice’s CEO, Terry Osborn said: “Whilst we all work very hard to generate the income to support our vital work in the local community the reality is that without the generosity of local people, like Albert Mills who leave the Hospice a gift on their will, the charity would not exist.

“Albert’s decision to provide a gift to Kemp came directly as a result of the outstanding care and support provided to Audrey and we will, thanks to him, now be able to support many more people just like his wife in the years to come.

“We also benefit from the support provided by local solicitors such as Marion Evans and we are grateful to her for her help in this matter.”