A HORSFORTH woman who lost her son to cancer has left a legacy of £59,117 to Yorkshire Cancer Research.

Angela Brown, who passed away at the age of 91 in September last year, also left donations to St Gemma’s Hospice and Wheatfields Hospice in her will.

Yorkshire Cancer Research has supported vital projects across Yorkshire for more than 90 years and is dedicated to saving lives by investing in projects that tackle local cancer problems and priorities.

Charles Rowett, chief executive officer at the charity, said: “We are extremely grateful that Angela chose to remember Yorkshire Cancer Research in her will. Legacies are incredibly important to us, making up around two thirds of our funding. Thanks to Angela and other supporters who generously leave gifts in their wills, we are able to invest in long term projects that will make significant improvements to the diagnosis, treatment and care of cancer patients in our region.”

Angela was born in Stoke on Trent and moved to the Leeds area in 1953 with her husband Tony.

The couple met while Tony was studying at Oxford University and Angela was working as a physiotherapist at John Radcliffe Hospital. Both devout Catholics, they were introduced to each other by the parish priest.

Tony held the role of managing director at Rose Forgrove, a food packaging machinery company in Leeds, for many years. Together, the couple played an active role in the public and cultural life of the city.

They were great supporters of the arts, with a particularly keen interest in music. Their achievements include a fundraising campaign which led to the refurbishment of Leeds Art Gallery.

Angela gave birth to her firstborn son, Philip, in 1953. Two further live births did not survive beyond a few days due to a genetic condition.

Philip was an outstanding scholar and went on to study at the same college in Oxford where his father had studied. He later qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse.

Sadly, Philip was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer and he died in April 1979 at the age of 26. Tony passed away aged 75 in July 2001.

Michael Bartlett, a family friend and executor of Angela’s will, said: “Angela would be delighted that her bequest is being put to such good use and will further research into cancer.”

For more information about Yorkshire Cancer Research and leaving a legacy, please visit www.ycr.org.uk/giftinwill.