The Trustees, Patrons, Ambassadors, archive staff and volunteers are making considerable efforts to raise the funds required to support the National Jazz Archive, and your help would be invaluable.
Brian Browning wanted to help and left a legacy for the Archive. He had a number of passions in his life. Fortunately for jazz lovers, Brian combined two – the joy of photography and a life-long love of jazz.
For many years, Brian visited jazz clubs armed with his trusty Canon camera and took stunning images of the performing musicians. Other fans knew Brian and happily made space for him to get that one shot that captured the musicians perfectly.
The next time the musicians appeared at the club, Brian would present them with a copy of his best efforts, much to their delight.
Sadly, Brian passed away in 2016. However, he left a two-fold legacy to the National Jazz Archive to share with the jazz world: his personal archive of prints, and a proportion of the value of his property.
Brian’s generosity means that, in addition to a wonderful record of jazz musicians performing, his legacy will go someway to help the Archive can employ its core team.
Leave a gift in your Will
Like Brian, you can leave a legacy to support the National Jazz Archive. Even a small amount will make a difference.
A Will is a uniquely personal document, and will give you peace of mind, knowing that your wishes will be carried out. It will ensure that those you love are provided for and is also an opportunity for you to help those causes you wish to support, like the National Jazz Archive.
Many people underestimate the importance of making a Will, mistakenly thinking they do not have enough money or possessions to make a Will worthwhile.
In fact, making a Will and keeping it up-to-date is the only way to ensure that whatever you have is distributed according to your wishes.
Get advice
It is important for you to go to a solicitor or Will writer to get sound, reliable and professional advice. Your wishes, and any practical or tax implications that there may be, can then be properly dealt with.
You might find a solicitor by contacting either the Law Society or Will Aid.
Types of legacy
Your solicitor or Will writer will be able to tell you about the various types of legacy but the most common are
- A pecuniary (cash) bequest, or specific legacy. In a cash legacy you leave a gift of a specified sum of money to one or more beneficiaries. A specific legacy is a gift of a specified item such as a house, work of art, music collection, books, or jewellery.
- A residuary bequest. The residue of your estate is what is left after all legacies have been paid or transferred to your beneficiaries and payment made of all debts, costs and taxes due from your estate. A gift of the residue is called a residual bequest and can be divided into specified proportions so that one or more individuals or concerns can benefit.
The following are examples of suitable wordings to be used in a Will for each case.
A pecuniary bequest (cash legacy)
'I GIVE to the National Jazz Archive (Registered Charity No: 327894) of Loughton Library, Traps Hill, Loughton, Essex IG10 1HD (hereinafter called the NJA) the sum of £_______
and I direct that (i) the proceeds may be used for the general purposes of the National Jazz Archive and (ii) a receipt signed by a person for the time being authorised by the Board of the NJA shall be a good and sufficient discharge to my executors.'
A pecuniary bequest (specific legacy)
'I DIRECT that my (specific item - eg Records/CD collection) shall be given to the National Jazz Archive (Registered Charity No: 327894) of Loughton Library, Traps Hill, Loughton, Essex IG10 1HD (hereinafter called the NJA) with specific permission to sell the collection with the funds raised to be used for the benefit of the NJA and a receipt signed by a person for the time being authorised by the Board of the NJA shall be a good and sufficient discharge to my executors.'
A residuary bequest
’I GIVE to the National Jazz Archive (Registered Charity No: 327894) of Loughton Library, Traps Hill, Loughton, Essex IG10 1HD (hereinafter called the NJA) the residue (or % share of the residue) of my estate absolutely and I direct that (i) the proceeds may be used for the general purposes of the NJA and (ii) a receipt signed by a person for the time being authorised by the Board of the NJA shall be a good and sufficient discharge to my executors.'
Thank you
Thank you, on behalf of all future jazz lovers, for considering leaving a legacy. We hope you have found this information helpful.
If you have any queries about making a gift in your Will to the National Jazz Archive, or would like to know more about our work, or simply visit the Archive, please feel free to contact us.
Guidance Notes for Executors: if you are the executor of a Will that contains a gift to the National Jazz Archive and have any questions, kindly contact the Archive.
Disclaimer: The National Jazz Archive, its trustees, officers and employees each disclaim such or any liability which does or might arise as a consequence of and inaccurate or misleading statements made in these notes. While every care has been taken to ensure that they are correct, the statements made are for explanatory and guidance purposes only. On every occasion it is strongly recommended that you seek professional advice before finally making your Will or any Codicil to it.
You should not take or refrain from action based upon this article alone. Each individual is unique, and bespoke advice should always be taken from a solicitor or will writer specialising in wills, trusts and inheritance tax.