The mystery of why a woman in America – with no known connections to Scunthorpe hospital – generously bequeathed us £326,000 in her will has been solved.
As reported last week, we’ve used the money gifted to us by the late Mrs Elizabeth Fairchild to improve our dementia facilities in the hospital. However, the only information we had about our mysterious benefactor was her name.
Intrigued, we launched an appeal to try and find out more about her – which was even featured on Radio 5 Live.
And, as a result, some of her relatives* have come forward to tell us about this wonderful woman who, despite emigrating to America and mingling with the stars at MGM film Studios, always had a special place for Scunthorpe in her heart.
Speaking about Elizabeth’s life, her family said she was born in Scunthorpe and raised in Broughton. She emigrated in the 1960s, having previously worked as a secretary on the town’s steelworks after she left school.
Once in America, she used her skills from her time at the steelworks to secure a secretarial job with MGM, and soon found herself supporting some of the biggest actors and actresses in Hollywood – including Rock Hudson of Dynasty fame.
However, she never forgot her Scunthorpe roots.
Her family said she was a very private person but did stay in touch regularly with her sister back in Scunthorpe, and used to come back over for visits.
Elizabeth lived in a little place called San Marcos in California but unfortunately developed dementia in 2015, when she was in her 80s. Amazingly, we didn’t know this information when we chose to spend the money on improving dementia facilities!
After selling her home, she spent time in residential care, before finally settling with friends in Oregon.
Elizabeth never had any children and her family described her as a “typical American lady”, who was a very “private person”. She was married but her husband died many years ago.
They’re thrilled the money is being spent on helping dementia patients in hospital, especially since Elizabeth lived with this herself.
*Elizabeth’s relatives have asked that they are not identified.