Kendal Man Barry Gooderham, bequeaths £64,000 to The Lakeland Housing Trust

A GENEROUS £64,000 bequest from a Kendal man came as a very welcome surprise to an affordable homes charity which has also benefited from the receipt of a ‘beautiful’ Grade II-listed property.

The money was left to the Kendal-based Lakeland Housing Trust (LHT) by Barry Gooderham, who died aged 71 in 2018.

Malcolm Tillyer, chairman of LHT, which provides affordable rented homes for local people who cannot afford to live elsewhere, said it was ‘unusual’ for the trust to receive a cash donation of that size.

“It’s great because we have got plans to develop more properties, build more properties and this is a significant sum of money that can help us get to where we want to be. We have got plans to build a couple of properties in Grasmere so this money will help there,” he said.

“It was a really pleasant surprise and has come at a time when everyone’s struggling at the moment and any funds that can help us move forward are very welcome.”

Mr Gooderham, who worked for Barclays, was originally from Lytham St Annes but moved to Kendal in the 1990s. After taking early retirement he remained very active, walking, cycling, learning to play the trumpet and singing with Kendal Choral Society.

He also volunteered with Citizens Advice, spending a lot of time talking to people who were struggling financially and were unable to pay their mortgages or the rent on their homes. It is believed this is what led Mr Gooderham to leave money to LHT.

The money is one of two pieces of good news for the trust at the moment, with it being handed Grade II-listed Grandy Nook on Low Fellside, Kendal, as well as the cottage which sits behind it.
It was entrusted to LHT by the Kendal and Sedbergh Quakers. The Quakers received it in 1971 and had it converted into flats for people of modest means.

Mr Tillyer said: “I am very grateful to the Kendal and Sedbergh Quakers for entrusting such a significant property into the care of the Lakeland Housing Trust. Our charitable objectives are very similar and the property will continue to be offered to local people who cannot afford to rent or buy locally.”

Article written by Joe Fletcher, Westmorland Gazette