PLEASANT SURPRISE
ORGANIST'S £29,000 GIFT FROM “ POOR PUPIL " For more than 50 years blind people were one of the great interests in the life of Miss Isabel Hood, of St. Leon-ards-on-Sea, Sussex. She turned her house into a holiday home for them. About 40 years ago there came to her home a "four and a-half-y ear-old motherless blind girl, Emily. By a coincidence the girl’s other name was Hood. Her benefactress was attracted to the child, and invited her to stay. But Miss Hood had another great interest—church music. Twenty-five years ago she asked Mr Allan Biggs, organist of Christchurch, England, to give her organ lessons. Thinking her poor, he made the terms as easy as possible. Soon she was n frequent visitor. His wife provided meals for her. Miss Hood died in September. Her will was published the other day. She left £29.000, and the bulk of it was bequeathed to Mr Biggs. Emily Hood’s name was not mentioned. “ It was a great surprise to ine to find mvself mentioned and to discover that Miss Isabel Hood had any money.” Mr Biggs told the ‘ Daily Herald.’ “ I have made arrangements for the blind people with the Hustings Society for the Blind. They are all in comfortable homes. I shall naturally see that Emily Hood and the others arc never in want.”-
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19400213.2.6
Bibliographic details
Evening Star, Issue 23499, 13 February 1940, Page 2
Word Count
222PLEASANT SURPRISE Evening Star, Issue 23499, 13 February 1940, Page 2
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