A “frugal” north-east widow has left hundreds of thousands of pounds to loved ones and the charities closest to her heart.
Cat lover Jane Hutton’s £1.7million fortune shocked friends, who said she had always been careful with money and hated being in the spotlight.
The 82-year-old stayed in Old Aberdeen, but moved into Balmedie House after she began struggling with dementia.
She died last July at the home – but not before leaving strict instructions for her estate to be divided among good causes.
The retired medical secretary, who had no children with her late husband Neil, left £14,000 to four of her closest friends.
Two of them acted as Mrs Hutton’s executors, and were told to give any of her personal possessions that they did not want, as well as £1,000, to the Central Aberdeen branch of the Cats Protection League.
The rest of her estate will be divided equally between the British Red Cross’s north-east Scotland and Northern Isles branch, World Villages for Children, Hope Africa and Christian Aid – meaning each group will each receive more than £400,000.
Gunilla Smith, of Aberdeen, organised an exercise class which Mrs Hutton attended after she had heart surgery, and the pair became good friends.
The 72-year-old, who is among the benefactors, said: “I became very friendly with her and went on holidays and days out with her as well as seeing her at the classes.
“Jane was never one for being front and centre and she was very frugal with her money.
“She used to go to a group that put on shows and she would just sing at the side or have a small part – she hated being front and centre in the spotlight.”
Another friend, Adeline MacDonald, 80, of Aberdeen, added: “She kept herself to herself. She had always said she would like to leave money to the Cats Protection as she loved cats, but she did not say where the rest of her money was to go.”
Matt Vincent, from the Cats Protection League, said Mrs Hutton had been a member of the organisation for more than 25 years.
He said: “By leaving a gift to Cats Protection in her will, Mrs Hutton will help us to change the lives of some of the many cats and kittens that we care for every year.
“Without supporters like Mrs Hutton remembering us in this incredibly personal way, we simply wouldn’t be the charity we are today.”