A World War Two veteran and his wife have left their estate, worth around £600,000 to the RNLI.
Bernard Jordan, who left his nursing home to go to France for D-Day commemorations in June, died on 30 December at the age of 90.
His wife Irene, 88, died a week after her husband on 6 January. They had been married for more than 65 years.
Paul Boissier, the RNLI’s chief executive told the BBC: “This is absolutely wonderful, unexpected news.
“Bernard’s story charmed the nation last year. That spirit, that determination, is embedded deep within the psyche of out volunteer lifeboat crews who go to sea to save others in peril on the sea.”
The RNLI believe that Bernard and Irene’s decision to leave their estate to the organisation stemmed from his time in the Royal Navy during the Second World War.
The couple had been living at The Pines care home in Hove.
Bernard left the home and travelled to Normandy to attend the 70th anniversary celebrations of D-Day to remember his fallen “mates”.
The former mayor of Hove was later made honorary alderman of Brighton and Hove.
In September Angela Wintle spoke to Bernard about sneaking out of The Pines care home to join the D-Day commemorations, read the full interview here.
