by Chris Hunter

chunter@thekmgroup.co.uk

An incredible £700,000 has been given to a children’s hospice in a single legacy, six years after a former nightclub owner died.

The cheque was donated to Demelza Hospice Care for Children on behalf of Francis Stone, of Wierton Place in Boughton Monchelsea.

Mr Stone specified in his will that money should go to a hospital or hospice of the trustee’s choice – and stated that any building work should be in memory of his mother, Lydia Jane Stone.

The former owner of the Polo Club in Wierton Place died in 2005 and left an estate valued at £4.1 million gross, £3.8 million net.

Mr Stone had no children – a fact which is thought to have prompted the choice of Demelza Hospice Care.

The cheque was presented at a night hosted by Mr Stone’s brother, Aaron, at The Casino Rooms in Rochester on Sunday, October 16.

Mayor of Medway Cllr Ted Baker and a host of other guests attended the gala event in aid of the charity.

Steve Hoy, chief executive at Demelza, said: “I would like to say a huge thank-you to the Stone family for their continued support of Demelza, both through the substantial legacy and the recent event at the Casino Rooms. It was a fantastic event, with around £2,000 raised from the night.”

The money has gone towards Demelza’s new hydrotherapy pool – which will particularly help patients with muscular conditions.

Sorting out Mr Stone’s estate is thought to have been a long complicated procedure, and has taken several years to accomplish.

Beneficiaries of the rest of the estate, which is in the hands of executors, have not yet been announced.