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A POPULAR schoolteacher has stunned friends and family by leaving over £1 million to charity in her will.
Martha Calvert – who taught Sir Fred Goodwin – passed away in December last year aged 96, and her recently published estate has revealed the true extent of her wealth.

Miss Calvert, an only daughter, and brought up in Renfrew, was an outgoing and admired figure in the Paisley community. Included in her legacy was her family home valued at £245,000, and cash, shares and investments totalling over £900,000. And although the philanthropic OAP lived a fairly frugal lifestyle – including never owning a television – her bequest reveals extensive gifts to charities, family and friends.

The three charities and organisations that received over a million in donations between them were the ex-Servicemen’s nursing home Erskine Hospital in Bishopton, the Accord Hospice in Paisley and Glasgow University. Close friends have spoken of their shock at the extent of Miss Calvert’s savings.

Shipping Executive Capt. Robert Logan, 63, a family friend, said: “Martha was a really good friend of my late mother, and had actually been a bridesmaid at her wedding.

“She was a very private, but a very interesting person to know.

“Right up until her last couple of months Martha’s mental prowess and agility was second to none. I think it might have to do with all those crosswords she loved doing.”

But he insisted that the pensioner was not flashy and showed no signs of her secret fortune.

He said: “She led a very simple life, and the only outward sign of her wealth was when she treated herself to a yearly holiday.
“I was extremely surprised to find out she had left as much as £1 million in her will.

“I knew she liked to study the stock market, but it looks like she knew more about it than she let on.”

Capt Logan also revealed Miss Calvert never even owned a television set throughout her long life preferring instead to either read or listen to the radio to receive her news.

Miss Calvert’s portfolio contained substantial shareholdings in blue chip companies RBS, Marks and Spencer, Cadbury Schweppes and the pharmaceutical conglomerate, GlaxoSmithKline. Up until her death last year, the retired school teacher was a lively, sociable pensioner who regularly attended her local church, was a keen crossword enthusiast and who loved to tend to her beloved garden.

By Alexander Lawrie

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 13th, 2008 at 4:55 am and is filed under FSBO. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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