West Berkshire woman bequeaths £500,000 to hospital

The woman from Tilehurst mysteriously left the money to a Reading hospital in her will

A TILEHURST woman who died two years ago has surprised the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading by bequeathing it half a million pounds in her will.

The hospital first learned of the gift from West Berkshire woman Edna Flook when a cheque for £500,000 turned up, said spokesman Joe Wise.

He said it had been stipulated that she left the money to either endow a ward or purchase a scanner.

“In the event we have been able to do both,” he said. “The bulk of her money will be used to re-equip the Buscot special care baby unit (pictured) with incubators and ventilators.”

Details are sketchy as to much of the life of the mysterious benefactor, who did not give a reason for the donation.

She was born in Liverpool in 1925 and was raised as an only child by by her parents in the area of Litherland.

Later in the course of her education she attended Waterloo Grammar School for girls where she received good reports academically, also had a flair for dramatics.

A talented singer who performed at concerts during the middle to the end of the war, she sang on BBC radio and was also a member of St. Phillips Church choir, Litherland.

She commenced work as a typist at Norwest Construction Company and it was here she met her husband-to-be, George Flook, an up and coming civil engineer, whom she married in 1948.

During the early part of their marriage it is believed both carried out voluntary work and were involved in the annual weeks camping at sites in Llangollen and Bridlington.

Mr Flook worked for the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and is is believed that the couple moved in 1965 to be close to the Harwell establishment.

They lived in Fairways Avenue, Tilehurst.

Mr Flook died in October 1995, and in July 2008 Mrs Flook spent five weeks in the Royal Berkshire Hospital, before spending the rest of her days in a nursing home.

She died in September 2009.

Mr Wise added: “As far as we can tell Mrs Flook only had one distant relative who wasn't too keen on chatting to the media - and didn't really know very much about her as he lives a couple of hundred miles away.”

Did you know Mr and Mrs Flook? If so, contact Mark Taylor on 01635 564532 or email mark.taylor@newburynews.co.uk