A 'Ten Pound Pom' expat has inherited a British stranger's 400,000 estate - after heir hunters tracked her down to Australia.

Jacqueline Billington, 82, was stunned when she received a letter telling her she was set to inherit the cash.

The surprise windfall came from Raymond Barry Howson, 85, who died in West Middlesex in 2021.

Raymond had no next of kin and had not made a will so his fortune, which included a flat in Twickenham, was at risk of being handed to the treasury.

Finders International, a professional probate genealogy firm that features on BBC's Heir Hunters show, took the case and tracked down his relatives.

Raymond, who worked mainly as an airline cabin crew member, had never married nor had any children. 

The estate included a flat in Twickenham (image via SWNS)

Heir hunters Finders International tracked down Jacqueline over 9,000 miles away in Western Australia who was found to be Raymond's second cousin. 

Jacqueline emigrated to Australia as a 'Ten Pound Pom' in March 1969 with her then husband and three young children.

Ten Pound Poms were British citizens who migrated to Australia and New Zealand after the Second World War. 

Jacqueline, originally from Halebank, Widnes, Lancashire, has now inherited part of his estate.

She said: "I was totally surprised to have been contacted by Finders International. 

''It was completely unexpected. Initially, of course, I was somewhat suspicious - it's certainly not an everyday occurrence to be told that you are going to inherit money from someone you've never heard of! 

"I didn't know Raymond, I never met him or heard of him. I've lived in Western Australia for more than 56 years and find it incredible that Finders International tracked me down – they literally searched the world to find me. It's so pleasing to establish the details of my extended family tree. 

''My mother and Raymond would have been cousins. Thanks to Finders I now understand how I am related to him. 

"I'm hoping to spend the inheritance on building an enclosed decking area at my house so that I can sit outside in the evenings safe from mosquitos. 

''There I'll have a drink and remember Raymond." 

Finders International found 47 beneficiaries around the world (image via SWNS)

Another beneficiary was Lorraine Gesell, 60, a Canadian 4,600 miles away in Mission, British Colombia. 

Lorraine's mother, originally from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire emigrated to Canada in 1951. 

Lorraine had also never heard of Raymond. Her grandfather and Raymond's mother were siblings.

Lorraine added: "In this day and age there are so many scams going around that I was very wary. 

''It sounded like a fairy-tale – someone you never knew has died and you're entitled to an inheritance. It really is quite unbelievable. 

"However, Finders International was providing me with details about my extended family and of course there was never a request for money, so it did make sense to me."

Another beneficiary was Lorraine Gesell, 60, a Canadian (image via SWNS)

Born in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, Raymond was the only child of Harry Howson, an accountant, and Lena Iris Moores.

Jacqueline's maternal grandmother; Lorraine's grandfather; and Raymond's mother, Lena, were all siblings.

In total Finders International found 47 beneficiaries around the world, ranging from New Zealand, Canada, Australia and throughout the UK. 

Simonne Llewellyn, CEO of Finders International said: "While this might be unexpected, it's not totally uncommon, particularly with large extended families and where people emigrated from the UK a long time ago.

''While we don't know what Raymond's wishes were, had we not found these beneficiaries the money would have eventually gone to the treasury."

Simonne Llewellyn added: "When somebody dies intestate, their estate becomes a 'vacant good'. Bona Vacantia is the name given to these ownerless estates that are then passed to the Crown.

''Family members and heirs have 12 years to claim an estate once it has been reported unclaimed to the Crown."

The migrants were called Ten Pound Poms because of the charge of £10 in processing fees to migrate to Australia.