Any surviving relatives of Fred the former Wolverhampton ring road tramp were today being sought by the Government to claim a share of his secret stash of cash.
See also: Fred’s life in pictures
The 87-year-old Pole died in October last year after more than three decades of living on Ring Road St John’s in Snow Hill - despite it later emerging he had saved up thousands of pounds in untouched pension money over 20 years.
The Treasury Solicitor is looking to allocate a share of his estate to anyone who can prove they are related to Fred, whose real name was Josef Stawinoga.
Otherwise his money will go to the public purse. The news as it was today revealed Wolverhampton City Council has ruled out using public money to build a memorial to him - partly because of the authority’s financial situation.
Council spokeswoman Felicity Roberts said: “The council has not formally considered any proposal for a memorial but we are aware that some community groups have raised money towards such an idea.
“Any such proposal would require planning consent.
“In the light of the council’s budgetary position and the mixed public reaction it is felt that a private subscription approach is most appropriate.” The Treasury Solicitor has not released the value of Fred’s estate but the money was enough to pay for his funeral with plenty spare.
Any relatives of Fred have several years to come forward. If no one does his cash will boost Government coffers at the Treasury.
The Treasury Solicitor got involved as Fred died without leaving a will or any entitled kin.
The Government department only deals with solvent estates, leaving a net balance of £500 or above, and approximately 2,000 cases are referred to the department each year.
To try to find any entitled kin, officials have issued advertisements and Fred’s details may also appear on the www.bonavacantia .gov.uk website.
Respondents are required to provide evidence of their blood relationship in the form of birth, marriage and death certificates, along with evidence of their identity.
A simple ceremony in Polish was held at Bushbury Crematorium to say goodbye to Fred in November last year.
He was well-known throughout the city having lived on the ring road for years. He was found dead in his tent on October 28. A post mortem ruled he died of pneumonia.
33 Comments
they’ll all be comming out of the woodwork now …
HE WAS A SCRUFFY IMMIGRANT WE SHOULD NOT DO ANYTHING AT ALL IN REGARDS A MONUMENT FOR HIM. END OF.
Why not use it to raise an everlasting memorial to this man on the site where he lived for all those years.
he looks like he is related to half of wolverhampton so you will all get a quid each
THE LEAST YOU DO FOR THIS COUNTRY IN CONTRIBUTING TO ITS WELFARE STATE,THE MORE YOU GET OUT OF IT.
A MONUMENT FOR WHAT ? WHAT DID HE DO ? ROLL ON THE DAY WHEN I EMIGRATE AWAY FROM THIS MADNESS !
ahh so thats why wolves fans are called dingles, i see the simalarity now.
Well said Baggie!!!
baggie.
Nice one!
BOING BOING.
I heard he was an ex SS soldier?
Now that would be embarrassing if a statue went up and that crawled out the woodwork!
Poor bloke , he was the cleanest person living in Wolverhampton. At least this guy had abit of self respect unlike some of you dirty dingles
baggie
Absolutely brilliant.
10, Go away small man, most people in the country couldnt even tell you where West Bromwich was, so crawl back from where you came from, or are you thinking of getting a mortgage on Freds old place??
What a bunch of saddos you Baggies & Saddlers fans are (and as far as I can see there’s at least one Wolves fan as well)!! Not content with pedalling your bile on the football blogs you have to spread it everywhere else as well. Now I’m not advocating that a memorial should be erected or anything like that - why not give the money to charity if no one comes forward - not to a faceless council who will no doubt find something to waste it on. But whatever happens you cannot take it away that Fred was a local character and should be remembered as such.
Have you lot of Tesco’s not noticed the immigrants living in Smethwick. Remember Smethwick was voted the 4th worst place to live in the UK. Wolverhampton didn’t even feature in the top 200. Get yer facts right thicko’s
well said Filtonwolf (Bristol)and munchalot
he never hurt anyone and never took any thing from anyone.
you lot want to grow up and learn some Respect and if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all!!!!!!
Can this quiet and peaceful man not be left to rest in peace? If a memorial of some kind were to be created to his memory it would be a pleasing antidote in a world where fame, brashness and fame for mediocrity generally seem to be everything. Let’s have some respect.
What exactly am i supposed to respect about a tramp
Maybe his cash should go to a charity such as Shelter?
baggie …… respect the dead!!!
Were you bought up to not respect anyone?
Just because he was a tramp does not mean he does not deserve respect.
Hope when you pass away people dance on your grave you horrid little person.
Wonder what football club he suported
At least he not have far to go he could listen to all you Dingles being beaten at footie
RIP FRED
The worlds gone mad! Fred was a character in Wolverhampton and will be remembered by the people who saw him over the years….he terrified the life out of me as a child although as an adult I realised he was a harmless man who wanted a simple life…..what I cant understand is why do we need an extravagent costly memorial to a man who didnt believe in spending money! how many meals, clean warm clothes and shelter could be bought with the money that a memorial would cost - I am sure Fred wouldnt give a thank you for a memorial!
NO WONDER THE COUNTRY IS IN A BAD WAY,THE COMMENTS ABOUT FRED THE TRAMP ARE VERY SAD.THE MAN HURT NOBODY OR TOUCHED HIS PENSION
LET HIM REST IN PEACE AND USE YOUR VENOM ON YOURSELF.
A memorial for what exactly???? - Just let him rest in peace. If its true what they say about him working for hitler then no way should he be given a memeorial - besides that he was just another bloke who slept rough. What next a memorial for the former molineux subway beggar - when he passes??
Well my wife is off to Poland as I write to see her Polish parents but I doubt she’ll be looking for Freds relatives. I remember Fred on that roundabout in the 1970’s when I was a teenager. He will be missed !!!
16. Nice words Nigel (Scotland)
17. Baggie
You can respect the way the man chose to live. He may have been given many things but never asked for anything. I think you could probably try and respect that. What do you expect the state to give you in return for nothing ?
Fred has got a relative living in the Dudley area and this relative is a tesco and that is a fact
Why does the mindless lame brains of this world who support football enough to find any internet site or excuse to insult other football clubs get a life or find another play ground to fight in.
I think as a mark of respect to a man of principals you should lot (football fans) should shut your
mouths until you can find something respectful to say.
may our memories of Fred live on.
wonder if you would have felt the same if he dossed by your house just a thought
How about donating Fred’s money to the homeless if no family come forward?
I am disgusted by some of the comments I have read on here, you football fans have very little respect for a poor guy that did no harm to anybody. You all need to grow up and start realising that Fred was a human being like yourself - only with far more respect for others. Your all a disgrace to society.
No offence to you all, but Fred was ex SS soldier. And what did he do for Wolverhampton? Nothing. All he did was Camp by the ring road and Gather rubbish into his Tent. Dont see why he should have a memorial. He didnt exactly do anything… now look at Proper folk who done stuff.. Sister Dora of Walsall (She helped sick people of walsall) she had a hospital named after her and got a statue in memory of her for all hard work she done as she was dedicated.. Whats fred going to be remembered for? Being a Tramp?! what’s next The cowboy should be awarded an OBE and Mad ramsey of walsall to go on This is your life…Yeah whatever!
i am best friends of the w,ton cowboy david william cox he is not mad he is the most intellegent guy me ane my hubby have ever met and we love him dearly. he is a christian now and has totaly sorted his life out. not a cowboy any longer.
Good-evening all!
Is money,Fred,s money,that is,all people can
think about now he,s dead?Shocking!Let the man
R.I.P,god knows what the man,s been through
during his long life to make him turn away from
the world!
FJ Bartling,Hilversum,Holland.
Once a lad from Dudley,never forgotten……..