Children of 'tramp artist' launch legal battle over £6.5m legacy
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The young children of a deceased artist who kept an embalmed tramp in his studio are to contest their share of his £6.5m estate.
The portrait artist Robert Lenkiewicz, best known for his studies of vagrancy, died aged 60 in Plymouth last August, leaving 11 children by several women.
Lenkiewicz, who was married and divorced three times, left each of his children a tax-free legacy of £5,000.
The executor of his estate, Peter Walmsley, said claims for higher sums had been submitted on behalf of three infant children.
"It is not at all untoward for the courts to decide on what would be a reasonable provision for the infant children because obviously they are not old enough to make those decisions themselves," said Mr Walmsley, a solicitor.
The artist's other children have until September to make claims for a higher sum. The settlement will be decided by a court order.
Lenkiewicz, who lived frugally in Plymouth, left a £6.5m estate. It included a collection of books worth about £4m, which was left to the Lenkiewicz Foundation Trust, a registered charity.
The will made no mention of what should happen to the embalmed body of a tramp, Edwin Mackenzie, known as Diogenes, which was kept in the artist's studio. Mr Walmsley is awaiting instructions from the Lenkiewicz Foundation on the matter.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments