An Aberdeen businessman has left more than £5million in his will to the Quakers while “astounding” his staff with a windfall of around £2,000 each.
Richard Arkle, founder of Strategic Resources European Recruitment Consultants in North Silver Street, died suddenly while travelling in Peru last January.
He passed away in the capital, Lima, a day before his 64th birthday.
Details of his legacy have now been published, with an estate of more than £6million split between family, friends and good causes.
Ten former employees at the city recruitment firm which he founded will also benefit from a £20,000 legacy from Mr Arkle, of Coull, near Tarland, Aberdeenshire.
Shonah Raffan, managing director, said: “The employees were astounded when they were advised of the legacy made by Richard Arkle to them.
“Richard was always fully behind his staff and had an immense trust and respect for the team. He was a very generous man and is sadly missed.”
Mr Arkle had long been a generous and highly private supporter of projects both at home and abroad, with many benefiting from his generosity in the past – from women in Afghanistan to schoolchildren in his home village of Tarland, who now enjoy a youth cinema on his behalf.
The largest bequest in his will was for the Britain Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) with the money to be used to cover the running costs of the organisation.
They will receive in excess of £5million – the remainder of his estate after the bequests to his friends and family.
A spokesman for Friends of the Quaker Society said: ” The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) acknowledges with gratitude the generosity of the late Mr Richard Arkle in remembering the society in his will.
“In his youth, Mr Arkle was a pupil at Bootham School in York, a Quaker school.
“His gift will enable Quakers in Britain to extend their work in promoting social justice, particularly among the weakest and the most vulnerable in our society.”
Also to benefit will be the Tarland Development Group, who received £20,000 in his will with the money to be used to create a mountain bike track for young people living around the village.
Chairwoman Lindsay Stuart, who was a personal friend of Mr Arkle, said: “He always wanted to contribute to help the young people. He was an extremely generous man but he always wanted to be anonymous.”
Mr Arkle, who was a keen glider and active member of Deeside Gliding Club at Dinnet, near Aboyne, is survived by his brother Robin, of Hampshire, and a son, Thomas.