Thanks for posting this - very interesting. All the news headlines describing Voysey as head girl of a private school suggest a stereotype of someone confident and successful in life, but that’s very different from the apparent reality. And in any event being head boy or girl of a preparatory school is more like being the milk monitor than the role of head boy or girl in the sixth form of a secondary school.
Voysey and her accomplices are alone responsible for their crimes. But it’s clear from her pleading that other people - both of her parents, and the friend’s daughter who was a former solicitor - knew she was putting forward the 2019 document and claiming it was Mrs Renny’s will. It’s a pity none of them succeeded in talking her out of it (if they even tried to do so) or reported her to the police themselves. The witness who came forward in 2022 and prompted the police investigation to step up did the right thing
What a fantastic article you have written and thank you for the kind words regarding my book! I'm hoping that by sharing my story, I can raise awareness and bring about change to prevent this sort of thing from happening again. I would be more than happy to speak further with you about this case!
Thank you, Tom, and I’m very glad you found my article. I’m keen for people to be aware of this form of fraud too, although it is relatively rare, thankfully. I’d love to talk to you more about the case and will email you about that
One thought I have had since writing this is whether the introduction of Dispute Resolution Hearings into contentious probate claims might help to end a case like this more quickly and with less expenditure. These hearings are already used in the family courts and the Court of Protection. They are early hearings, in private, in which the judge gives the parties his or her impression of the strengths or weaknesses of their case, but makes no binding ruling, and invites the parties to attempt to negotiate a compromise there and then informed by the judge’s impression. If there is no compromise the case continues, but is heard by a different judge. It’s just possible that a judge laying out the reality for Leigh Voysey as a litigant in person might have persuaded her not to continue with a claim in which she ultimately wreaked so much harm on herself, as well as you and the other innocent beneficiaries of Maureen Renny’s will
I was fascinated to read this - as I was a pupil at The Barn School under Mrs. Massey as headmistress from about 1964 - I guess she sold on to Mrs. Renny? I was there until common entrance in about 1969, so maybe there was someone in between. After my first year within the old Barn building, Hill House was purchased and the school became a much bigger one - I remember it quite well. It was full of rather upper class snobby kids, more like a giant creche! The education was probably more based upon good manners and appropriate behaviour than on knowledge, the boys all left to go to prep boarding at 7, which was rather depressing for someone in an all girl family. Everyone was expected to know how to act correctly in those days, I doubt any would have grown up to behave like Voysey who attended during my time there. I still know a few. Having said that, I can't claim to have had particularly fond memories of the place, or of Mrs. Massey! Leigh Voysey looks like a very unsavoury character (following up on articles in the Times etc.), I'm glad she didn't get away with it! She must have been rather stupid to believe that she could. Izzy
A fascinating article. I knew Mrs Renny as I went to the Barn. It was a lovely school.
I also knew Leigh and considered her my best friend when I was there. I moved to new pastures and we lost touch. However in August 2021 we met up and I'd been there maybe 10 mins when she told me she'd inherited the school. I was gobsmacked and a little perplexed I thought she kidding. We had 2 nice days together. I've not seen her since. I want express my sympathy to Mrs Renny's family for what they've had to endure.
How interesting, and thank you for commenting. It remains astonishing to me that a previously law-abiding woman should have been tempted into dishonesty and folly on this scale, and I share your sympathies for Mrs Renny’s family
Thanks for posting this - very interesting. All the news headlines describing Voysey as head girl of a private school suggest a stereotype of someone confident and successful in life, but that’s very different from the apparent reality. And in any event being head boy or girl of a preparatory school is more like being the milk monitor than the role of head boy or girl in the sixth form of a secondary school.
Voysey and her accomplices are alone responsible for their crimes. But it’s clear from her pleading that other people - both of her parents, and the friend’s daughter who was a former solicitor - knew she was putting forward the 2019 document and claiming it was Mrs Renny’s will. It’s a pity none of them succeeded in talking her out of it (if they even tried to do so) or reported her to the police themselves. The witness who came forward in 2022 and prompted the police investigation to step up did the right thing
Hi Barbara,
What a fantastic article you have written and thank you for the kind words regarding my book! I'm hoping that by sharing my story, I can raise awareness and bring about change to prevent this sort of thing from happening again. I would be more than happy to speak further with you about this case!
Tom Renny
Thank you, Tom, and I’m very glad you found my article. I’m keen for people to be aware of this form of fraud too, although it is relatively rare, thankfully. I’d love to talk to you more about the case and will email you about that
Please do! It would be great to discuss further.
Tom
One thought I have had since writing this is whether the introduction of Dispute Resolution Hearings into contentious probate claims might help to end a case like this more quickly and with less expenditure. These hearings are already used in the family courts and the Court of Protection. They are early hearings, in private, in which the judge gives the parties his or her impression of the strengths or weaknesses of their case, but makes no binding ruling, and invites the parties to attempt to negotiate a compromise there and then informed by the judge’s impression. If there is no compromise the case continues, but is heard by a different judge. It’s just possible that a judge laying out the reality for Leigh Voysey as a litigant in person might have persuaded her not to continue with a claim in which she ultimately wreaked so much harm on herself, as well as you and the other innocent beneficiaries of Maureen Renny’s will
I was fascinated to read this - as I was a pupil at The Barn School under Mrs. Massey as headmistress from about 1964 - I guess she sold on to Mrs. Renny? I was there until common entrance in about 1969, so maybe there was someone in between. After my first year within the old Barn building, Hill House was purchased and the school became a much bigger one - I remember it quite well. It was full of rather upper class snobby kids, more like a giant creche! The education was probably more based upon good manners and appropriate behaviour than on knowledge, the boys all left to go to prep boarding at 7, which was rather depressing for someone in an all girl family. Everyone was expected to know how to act correctly in those days, I doubt any would have grown up to behave like Voysey who attended during my time there. I still know a few. Having said that, I can't claim to have had particularly fond memories of the place, or of Mrs. Massey! Leigh Voysey looks like a very unsavoury character (following up on articles in the Times etc.), I'm glad she didn't get away with it! She must have been rather stupid to believe that she could. Izzy
A fascinating article. I knew Mrs Renny as I went to the Barn. It was a lovely school.
I also knew Leigh and considered her my best friend when I was there. I moved to new pastures and we lost touch. However in August 2021 we met up and I'd been there maybe 10 mins when she told me she'd inherited the school. I was gobsmacked and a little perplexed I thought she kidding. We had 2 nice days together. I've not seen her since. I want express my sympathy to Mrs Renny's family for what they've had to endure.
How interesting, and thank you for commenting. It remains astonishing to me that a previously law-abiding woman should have been tempted into dishonesty and folly on this scale, and I share your sympathies for Mrs Renny’s family