THE makers of a TV show tracked down a pensioner to Walthamstow after finding out she had never claimed a £3,000 payout - only to discover she had died a year earlier.
The story of Betty Drake, who lived in Wood Street, is to feature on ITV programme 'Missing Millions' next Tuesday evening (October 4).
Mrs Drake, who was aged 84 when she passed away around 18 months ago, was owed the money from a funeral fund she had been contributing towards throughout her life.
But she had no children and lost contact with her distant relatives in the decade before her death, so the cash was never claimed.
Lynn Trevallion, owner of Lynn's salon in Wood Street, cut Mrs Drake's hair for 30 years and was interviewed for the show, helping researchers painstakingly piece together the details of her life.
"They contacted me out of the blue a few months ago because my shop is right next to where she lived. They weren't getting anywhere and it was on the off-chance I knew her," said the 62-year-old from Woodford Green.
"When I said she was a friend I had known for 30 years they couldn't believe it.
"It's such a shame about the money. She worked very hard throughout her life but other than a few holidays she didn't have much.”
Mrs Drake was well-known in the area and used to work as a 'clippie' on London buses in the 1960s.
It was there she met her future husband Ted, a bus driver. But, according to the show's researchers, he was married at the time and it was only after the 1971 Divorce Reform Act that he was able to divorce and marry Betty.
They lived throughout their married life in Wood Street. Ted, a former sergeant major, died around 10 years ago.
Mrs Trevallion added: "She was a smashing lady and we have lots of fond memories of her. So at least with the programme I think it's nice the community get to hear about her life."
During the making of the programme, researchers were able to track down a cousin of Mrs Drake, ensuring the money will end up with her family after all.
The show will be broadcast on Tuesday at 8pm on ITV1.
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