The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Family of mysterious doll-collecting pensioner who died alone in Perth have been traced.
Appeal: Family of Perth pensioner who died alone traced following Courier story
A pensioner who died alone in Perth more five weeks ago can finally be laid to rest after a Courier appeal.
Margaret McLagan Milton, 79, died in January at a palliative care unit in Perth Royal Infirmary.
But with no will and no known next of kin, she has not been given a funeral.
Perth-based Elliot and Company Solicitors were approached by the manager of Servite House, the sheltered housing complex where Margaret spent her latter years.
The firm made an appeal through the pages of The Courier on Saturday, urging any relatives to get in touch.
The appeal was spotted by a cousin who broke the sad news to Margaret’s older sister in Fife.
Solicitor Katie Elliot said: “We have been in touch with the sister and we are getting things sorted out now.
“We got a call over the weekend from a family member who had read the story at 6am on Saturday morning.”
Margaret left behind her collection of about 20 porcelain dolls, as well as some photographs, personal belongings and a small amount of money.
She was born in Stanley, near Perth, on March 28 1937. At the time, her parents lived in King Street, Montrose.
Solicitors were able to find out that she married, but later divorced. She lived in Hampshire before moving back to Perthshire.
It is understood she had no children.
She died at PRI’s Cornhill Macmillan Centre on January 28. She had been ill for some time. Friends at Servite House described her as a “spirited” lady.
Her china dolls were kept in storage at Elliots’ offices in Charlotte Street while staff made inquiries about her next of kin.
They contacted other local law firms to see if anyone held a will, but inquiries drew a blank.
Cousin Lesley Galletly confirmed that she contacted Margaret’s sister after reading Saturday’s story in the paper.