Winifred’s legacy lives on at YCR offices

The Harrogate-based charity has now moved to larger facilities at Jacob Smith House on Grove Park Road.

The charity’s new offices boasts meeting rooms which they are offering free of charge to local businesses for meetings before 9am and to community groups outside of office hours.

The new office is named after Winifred Mary Jacob Smith from Knaresborough, a notable supporter of Yorkshrie Cancer Research.

Since her death in 2003 the charity has received almost £10m from her legacy.

Nikki added: “The impact that Winifred’s legacy has had and will have on the charity cannot be underestimated. Thanks to her, we will be able to fund millions of pounds of research that will benefit cancer patients in Yorkshire and beyond.

“We decided it would be a fitting tribute to name our new office after Winifred so that we are always reminded of her legacy and the legacies of all those who have given to us in their wills.”

Winifred was the last surviving member of the Jacob Smith family who lived at Somerley, Boroughbridge Road, Knaresborough.

Her father was a gentleman farmer called Jacob Smith from Humberton near Helperby and the family moved to Somerley, which was a large detached red brick house with a tower, in 1911.

The Jacob Smith family were of independent means. Neither Winifred or her sister Dorothy married and they continued to live in some style for the rest of their lives.

The sisters were involved in the Woman’s Land Army during the Second World War and were extremely well respected.

Dorothy died in 1984 and in the late 1990s Winifred moved to Bilton Hall Nursing Home where she lived for six years until her death in 2003.

She made many generous bequests in her will including the gift of the former Scriven Park, now known as Jacob Smith Park, to Harrogate Borough Council to be maintained as a permanent public open space for the general public.

Richard Rufby, director at Cowling Swift Kitchin Solicitors said: “It was her abiding wish that the bulk of her residuary estate should be given to Yorkshire Cancer Research.

“Winifred would probably have been amazed at the magnitude of her estate. Her legacy to the community of Jacob Smith Park and to Yorkshire Cancer Research means that her life and family name live on and she would have been delighted that so many people will benefit from her kindness and generosity.”

For more information and to view the facilities contact Linsey Trower, on 01423 877225 or email [email protected].