Two retired teachers who lived "frugal" lives in a modestly furnished home shocked their friends by leaving more than £2 million to charities in their wills.
Bertram and Joyce Dumper drove cheap cars and made do with a tiny oven and fridge at their 1960s home, and even chose cheap sherry over expensive brands.
But the couple from Ipswich, Suffolk, who both taught English and had no children, invested wisely in a wide portfolio of share ISAs, amassing a small fortune.
Mr Dumper who was known as Bob had left most of his estate to his wife after he died aged 89 in April 2015 after battling Parkinson's disease.
But he specified in his will that the bulk of his wealth should be split between eight charities if Joyce had died before him.
Mrs Dumper respected her husband's last wishes that good causes should benefit from their respective deaths, when she drew up her will.
Probate records reveal that she left an estate worth £2,069,000 with most of her fortune going to the same eight charities nominated by her husband and two more chosen by her.
The couple who were married for 60 years were both known as dedicated teachers who devoted their lives to education before retiring in 1991.
Mr Dumper taught at a prep school and grammar school before joining the School of Commerce and Social Studies in Ipswich in 1954, which later became Ipswich Civic College, where he remained until retirement.
He was said to be known for many years for his trademark red suits and his bright shirts and ties.
Mrs Dumper taught English at Everton College in Ipswich before moving to nearby Kesgrave Hall School.
The couple remained friends with many of their pupils and students, and enjoyed an active retirement taking regular holidays around Europe and further afield.
But instead of flying first class, they joined tour groups to make their money go further and because they enjoyed meeting new people.
As their investments grew, the couple continued to live in their three-bedroom 1960s house in Ipswich which was worth around £335,000.
Their friend Rowell Bell, a former pupils of Mrs Dumper who was an executor of her will, said: "They were both brilliant teachers and lovely people.
"They did so much for so many people during their lives and now they have done something marvellous for a large number of charities.
"I wrote to people on their Christmas card list after Joyce died, and got a call from one woman whose husband was taught by Bob and had stayed in touch with him.
"Apparently, her husband was a lad of 16 who had gone off the rails, but Bob had got him back on the straight and narrow, and he had gone on to be very successful.
"He and Joyce were great fun and loved entertaining their friends at parties. They were also great film buffs and loved music.
"But they came from fairly humble backgrounds and lived relatively frugal lives. They only had a small oven and fridge and a tiny kitchen in their home and even their sherry was a cheap variety.
"They travelled widely in retirement and had trips to New Zealand, Singapore, China and Egypt as well as all around Europe.
"But they always went on tour groups which were a cheaper option and because they enjoyed meeting and talking to other people.
"They both had pensions and they always invested their money wisely, moving money around different shares. They were really quite canny.
"They excelled at whatever they put their minds to and their sparkle lives on in the memories we share. As Joyce wrote: 'Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened'."
Probate records reveal that Mrs Dumper left £1,803,272 to be split equally between the same eight national and local charities nominated by her late husband, with each receiving £225,409.
The charities benefiting are the Marie Curie Memorial Foundation, British Heart Foundation, St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich, the British Diabetic Association, Arthritis and Rheumatism Council for Research, Age UK, Stroke Association and Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
In addition, she left £122,950 each to the British Red Cross Society and World Cancer Research Fund. There were also gifts of £10,000 each to two friends.
Hannah Bloom, director of income generation at St Elizabeth's Hospice, said the couple's donation would help fund nurses providing end of life care.
She added: "We are delighted that Mr and Mrs Dumper have thought of the hospice in their will and to receive such a generous gift is fantastic.
"We know that demand for our specialist end of life care is increasing and such generosity will enable us to be here for those who need us today, as well as in the future."
Amber French, the RNLI's area lifesaving manager for Suffolk, said the organisation was "immensely grateful" for its "most generous gift".
She added: "Like so many other charities, our ability to fundraise in person has been hit hard by the pandemic, so this legacy will help keep our boats well maintained and our volunteer crews trained to the highest standard and in the best kit to do their job and save lives at sea."
Anne Hillion, legacy and in-memory lead for Suffolk at the Marie Curie Memorial Foundation, said: "Mr and Mrs Dumper will make a difference long into the future, and their gift will help Marie Curie to be there for people through all aspects of death, dying, and bereavement.
"The gift may also go towards funding important research into end-of-life care, or may help us to campaign for change to create a better end of life for all.
"Mr and Mrs Dumper's legacy will be providing comfort, care and compassion for people long into the future."
The couple's ashes are set to be scattered at a beauty spot on the Rive Alde, Suffolk, on October 2.
