Blenheim man leaves house to charity
A Blenheim man’s final request before he died was to have his house auctioned off with the proceeds going to charity.
Alan ‘‘Laddie’’ Hope died last month and has left his 1960s house at Warwick St to be auctioned off, with the money going to St John Marlborough and Hospice Marlborough.
Harcourts auctioneer Bryan Palmer said it was unusual yet exciting to know the money was going to the community.
‘‘The property was owned by a colourful Blenheim character, and the trustees of the estate were pleasantly surprised to learn that everything from the estate was going to local charities,’’ he said.
St John Marlborough manager Rod Hill said the proceeds from the three-bedroom house would go towards funding a new ambulance for the community. ‘‘We have to replace our ambulances so you can imagine this donation is going to fast track the purchases.
‘‘He was a real communityminded individual who believed that what’s in the community, stays in the community.
‘‘When he’s long gone, people will still remember his generosity.’’
A new ambulance would be Hope’s legacy, he said.
Hope’s neighbour Penelope Banfield said she had lived beside him for almost three years and he was a very giving person.
‘‘That’s what he wanted, to have the money go to charity.
‘‘He was a really neighbour,’’ she said.
‘‘ I do actually miss him, it feels weird looking over the fence and not seeing him there.’’
The property is at 51 Warwick St, Blenheim and will be sold on October 21 at 5.30pm on site.
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