D-Day veteran known as 'the great escaper' leaves £600,000 to RNLI

The former care home resident who travelled to France to see D-Day celebrations Bernard Jordan and his wife Irene have left their entire estate worth £600,000 to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI.)

The D-Day veteran, who served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War is believed to have given his fortune to the charity because of his affinity with people who spend time at sea.

Mr Jordan first became a well-known character last June when he ‘escaped’ from his care home in Sussex and travelled to France to attend the 2014 commemorations of the 70th anniversary D-Day landings.

Responding to the news that the charity will be receiving around £600,000 from the couple, Paul Boissier, RNLI chief executive, said: “This is absolutely wonderful, unexpected news. Bernard’s story charmed the nation last year when he journeyed from his Sussex care home to France to commemorate the D-Day landings. That spirit, that determination, is embedded deep within the psyche of our volunteer lifeboat crews who go to sea to save others in peril on the sea.”

Mr Jordan’s disappearance from The Pines care home caused a police search on 6 June 2014 and he was later discovered by a younger veteran who called the police to inform them he was safe.

Upon his return he was welcomed home to his care home by staff waving union jack flags and continued living there until early January 2015 when he passed away. His wife died just seven days after and the couple’s will revealed they had left nearly their whole estate to the RNLI.

Mr Boissier continued: “I am delighted that the couple chose to leave us this sizeable donation, and their contribution, like those of Bernard’s veteran peers, will never be forgotten.”

Guy Rose, legacy admin manager for the RNLI, said: “This is a wonderful gift from Bernard and Irene. He really made a name for himself last year and there can’t be many who weren’t touched by his story. Gifts left in wills are so valuable to the RNLI and they ensure we can continue our lifesaving work for people in, on or near the water.

“Of course, a will is an extremely private thing. But after taking care of loved ones, even the smallest gift in a will is vital to saving lives at sea and critical to the future of the RNLI. 6 out of every 10 lifeboat launches are only made possible because of gifts in Wills, so we are extremely grateful when people support us in this way.”

The RNLI provide a 24 hour on call lifeboat search and rescue service around the UK and Ireland, rescuing 23 people on average every day. Mr Jordan’s funeral will be held at St Michaels and All Angels Church in Brighton on Friday 30 January.