Would have expected better?

You would think that charities would act charitably, wouldn't you?  Well, it appears not so.  A Birmingham man was the main beneficiary in the will of his long-time partner.  She specified what she was leaving him, with any balance to go to two charities.  In the event, there was no balance, but shortly before she died she made a payment to him of a fairly substantial amount.  Given the history of their relationship there seems little doubt that she intended this as a gift, but the charities claimed it was a loan and therefore should be treated as part of her estate.  They took the matter to court and won, with the result that the man now faces legal costs which will wipe out the inheritance she left him.  Whatever the legal position (which rather surprisingly considering today's attitudes depends heavily on the fact that they were not married) the actions of these charities have left the man destitute.  Not very charitable, I would suggest.