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England and Wales Court of Appeal (Civil Division) Decisions |
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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> England and Wales Court of Appeal (Civil Division) Decisions >> Imperial Cancer Research Fund & Ors v Bradley & Anor [2001] EWCA Civ 714 (17 May 2001) URL: http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2001/714.html Cite as: (2000-01) 3 ITELR 787, [2001] WTLR 967, [2001] EWCA Civ 714 |
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COURT OF APPEAL (CIVIL DIVISION)
ON APPEAL FROM CHANCERY DIVISION
HIS HONOUR JUDGE MADDOCKS
(SITTING AS A HIGH COURT JUDGE)
Strand, London, WC2A 2LL |
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B e f o r e :
LADY JUSTICE ARDEN
and
MR JUSTICE SUMNER
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IN THE MATTER of the Will of 23rd July 1987 of CLARA BROADBENT dec'd IMPERIAL CANCER RESEARCH FUND & ORS |
Appellant |
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- and - |
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KENNETH PARTINGTON BRADLEY AND WILFRED AINSWORTH |
Respondents |
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Smith Bernal Reporting Limited, 190 Fleet Street
London EC4A 2AG
Tel No: 020 7421 4040, Fax No: 020 7831 8838
Official Shorthand Writers to the Court)
Mr Peter Smith QC & Mr Mark Halliwell (instructed by Hayton Winckley, Stramongate House, 53 Stramongate, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 4BH for the Respondents)
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Crown Copyright ©
Lord Justice Mummery:
The Appeal
"....to be held by them upon the trusts in clause (ix) thereof other than the alternative trust to apply moneys in such other religious or charitable purpose as the Trustees thereof shall in their absolute discretion think proper."
The Will and Probate
"......upon trust for the following charities in equal shares:-a. Imperial Cancer Research Fundb. The Vicar and Church Wardens of St Matthews Church Stalybridge for the general purposes of such Church but with the request that the money be used primarily for the upkeep of the fabric of the Churchc. The Arthritis and Rheumatism Council for ResearchAND I DIRECT that the receipt of the person appearing to the Bank to be the Treasurer or other proper officer for the time being of each of the above named charities shall be a full discharge to the Bank for the legacy given to that charity
AND I FURTHER DIRECT that should any of the charitable bequests in this clause fail the part so failing shall accrue to the remaining charity or charities and if more than one in equal shares"
Factual Background
"...the Trustees shall have power to sell the plot of land and the buildings for the time being erect and standing thereon or any part or parts thereof at any time if in their judgment it is deemed expedient or necessary so to do but so nevertheless that the proceeds shall either be applied in the purchase of another plot of land or the purchase or erection of another iron church or other buildings which when acquired shall be conveyed or transferred to the Trustees and shall be held by them upon the Trusts hereof or in such other religious or charitable purpose as the Trustees shall in their absolute discretion think proper."
Appellants' Submissions
Conclusion
"..........the position is that the courts have gone very far in the decided cases to resist the conclusion that a legacy to a charitable institution lapses, and a number of very refined arguments have been found acceptable with a view to avoiding that conclusion."
LADY JUSTICE ARDEN:
"It is well established that in the case of a gift to a charity (ie, to some body of persons or organisation admittedly charitable) where no general charitable intention is present, then (i) if the charity had ceased to exist before the will comes into question, the gift lapses; but (ii) if the charity is still in existence at the date mentioned, the gift is effective as a gift to the extent that the interests of the next-of-kin (or of whoever else take in default of the charitable interest taking effect) are for ever excluded notwithstanding the later dissolution or disappearance of the charity: see Re Slevin, Slevin v Hepburn [1891] 2 Ch 236). In these respects the "charity" is assimilated to an ordinary individual legatee. The same principles apply to a gift, not to a named charity, but for some (admittedly) charitable purpose where (again) there is no general charitable intention. Such a gift will wholly fail if the purpose is either so vague or uncertain or so impracticable that the court cannot execute it. The test of vagueness or uncertainty or impracticability is to be applied at the date of the testator's death; if at the date the disposition is shown to be impracticable (confining myself henceforth to that case) - that is, incapable for any reason of being practically initiated or administered - then the gift fails altogether and the next-of-kin (or whoever else are entitled in default) take. Per contra, if the charitable gift is not then shown to be "impracticable", the next-of-kin or other interests are for ever excluded even though later supervening events defeat the precise purpose contemplated by the testator."
MR JUSTICE SUMNER: