Bequest will go to new Compton Verney gallery

COMPTON Verney has received a surprise bequest of £27,000 from the late Elizabeth Coxon, who regularly travelled from her home in Worcester to visit the art gallery and park. Miss Coxon’s generous gift will be invested into creating a new gallery in which to house Compton Verney’s important British Folk Art collection.

Known to her friends and family as Liz, Miss Coxon sadly succumbed to pancreatic cancer in 2016. Her will made provision of the £27,000 for her favourite art gallery, but it came as a great – but very welcome – surprise to the Warwickshire venue.

Alice Gosling, Head of Development at Compton Verney says: “Miss Coxon was not known to us personally, but she has created history by being the first person to leave us a legacy. “Her generous bequest will be crucial to making sure our new Folk Art galleries are as effective and attractive as the Chinese galleries.

“It was only when we were contacted by one of the executors of Liz’s estate that we heard about her lovely gift. It is testimony to the talented teams who plan and deliver our exhibitions and collections behind the scenes and the friendly, welcoming atmosphere created by all our front of house and catering staff that she enjoyed visiting us so frequently and was inspired to kindly include us in her will.”