In February this year we were informed by the Solicitors acting on behalf of the administration of the estate of the late Mrs Jennie Hoey, that the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team was bequeathed a share in the residue of her estate.
Mrs Hoey died on 24th January 2010, and was late of Beechville Nursing Home, 653 Chorley New Road, Lostock, Bolton and formerly of 8 Markland Hill Close, Heaton, Bolton.
Mrs Jennie Hoey in her will very kindly made a number of pecuniary legacies to individuals, family, a local Church and a local school Bursary Fund.
In her will she also very generously directed that the residue of her estate be divided equally amongst twenty bodies and organisations, ours being one such group to benefit from Mrs Hoey’s thoughtful kindness.
(Others included the Guide Dogs, Salvation Army, Macmillan Cancer Support, Royal Academy of Dance, Blackpool Fylde and Wyre Society for the Blind, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Royal Bolton Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, Help the Aged, Barnardo’s, Bolton Destitute Animal Shelter, PDSA, RNIB, Leonard Cheshire Disability, Bolton Hospice, Derian House, Christie Hospital, RNLI, and the North West Air Ambulance)
Overall this represents an incredible act of support for many worthy charities. On Tuesday 9th November 2010 we received from the Solicitors dealing with this legacy, an interim distribution in the estate of the late Mrs Jennie Hoey, resulting in the substantial sum of £8,000.00 being made to the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team in respect of an interim residuary entitlement.
The team decided to honour Mrs Jennie Hoey’s kindness and support by placing a dedication plaque in our Ladybridge Hall base / HQ
We also decided to place a similar dedication plaque to her memory in Beechville Care Home, with the permission of their management.
This afternoon our Team Life Vice President Tony McNally, Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, Call Out list member Chris Tennant and Trainee member NIck Berry, all journeyed to Beechville Care Home to attend a Holy Communion Service after which we had been invited to hand over the dedication plaque in memory of the kindness of Mrs Jennie Hoey.
All four were met by the care Home Manager Melanie Salzgeber, who then introduced them to four very close friends of the late Mrs Hoey, who had also been invited to the plaque handover.
Our four members present learnt from the friends of Mrs Hoey, that she had been a very generous and very supportive lady to a great many charities throughout her life, and unbeknowns to us, had often commented on the work of the team.
We also learnt that Mrs Hoey had operated a very successful local dancing school for over 50 years under her maiden name of the Jennie Smith School of Dancing.
All four friends commented that they felt absolutely sure that Jennie Hoey “would have been thrilled to bits to know that two plaques from Bolton Mountain Rescue Team had been dedicated to her memory and kindness.”
Our members present and the friends of the late Jennie Hoey attended the Holy Communion Service, led by the Reverend Graham Smith, after which our Team Life Vice President Tony McNally then handed over the plaque dedicated to the memory of Jennie Hoey.
The Reverend Graham Smith then kindly said a prayer over the plaque, remembering the kindness and generosity of Jennie Hoey, and also saying a prayer for Gods blessing for the work of Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.
At the conclusion of their visit, our team members present were told that the plaque would be placed on the wall alongside the room which Jennie occupied whilst she was at Beechville Care Home.
