Sporle woman who inherited £140k estate through SAS father to feature on BBC show

A woman from Sporle whose father was one of the founding members of the SAS has inherited a £140,000 estate from a relative she never knew.

Christine Mitchell’s story is to be featured in the BBC series Heir Hunters later this morning, after the case was investigated by the London-based firm, Finders International.

She was identified as an heir to the estate of Eileen Holmes, who died in Colchester last year, aged 92.

Christine’s father, Charles, was Eileen’s first cousin, and was among the men involved in forming the SAS in the Second World War.

Chrstine said: “It was a real shock when Finders contacted me. Nothing like that has ever happened to me. I never met Eileen but I believe I had met her brother, Billy Gardner, a cousin of my father’s, when visiting my grandparents as a child.”

“While I didn’t know Eileen, her death and the involvement of Heir Hunters has opened up a whole family history that I only knew parts of.

“What I have now learned about my father’s military history in the SAS is quite mind-blowing. I never knew he was such a hero.”

Mrs Holmes had left no will and both her two former husbands and her brother died before her, without having any children.

Finders International, who specialise in probate genealogy, identified a total of 18 heirs to the estate.

Danny Curran, of Finders International, said: “This was a very successful case for the team.

“It is wonderful to have traced down the rightful heirs to Eileen’s estate and even better that Christine and all her relatives have now a full family tree and lots more information on their own heritage and history.”

Heir Hunters is on BBC One this morning at 11am.