IN his last will dated January 2, 1932, Elgar left an estate recorded at £13,934.6s.9p (about £675,370 today, according to Ian Priest of Clydesdale Bank, Worcester) with an unusual explanation in the first paragraph "I regret that owing to the sudden collapse of everything artistic and commercial, I have found it necessary to revoke the will which I had previously made and to make this present will.

"I leave nothing to charity as I have given everything possible during my life and I much regret that it is now necessary for me to cancel the legacies which it had been my purpose to leave to servants and friends and institutions."