Rae Grieve, a successful house builder and cattle breeder who died in April aged 83, made the extraordinary gesture in his will.

Mr Grieve, who did not marry or have any children, set up Lundin Homes and established one of the leading Aberdeen Angus herds in the country at his farm in Lundin Links, Fife.

He instructed his wealth be placed into a trust of which 13 people were named beneficiaries. They include Alastair Cormack, his stockman at his farm, Alan and Tom Spence, fellow directors at Lundin Homes, and Moira Birrell, sales manager.

Others to benefit include his doctor, an accountant who did work for him and Mr Grieve’s cousin Margaret Black and her children.

Farm worker Andrew Shaw, 54, who was given a job at Mr Grieve’s farm after being made redundant, is also one of the beneficiaries.

Mr Shaw said: “Rae was a gentleman, the salt of the earth. I had done contracting work for him over the years but after I was made redundant a few years ago he gave me a full-time job on the farm.

“That was just typical of him, he would never see anybody stuck. I’m not surprised to hear he has been so generous.”