Mr Syson spent over forty years at Bank of Scotland after joining the company from school at aged 16.

Outside of work, Mr Syson had a strong love of the arts and the Boys’ Brigade – which he joined as a youth and later served as a captain.

Mr Syson, of Edinburgh, died in May this year aged 88, following a period of ill health. His recently published will has revealed he left an estate worth £12,834,037. His wealth included properties in Edinburgh and a substantial stocks and shares portfolio, The Herald reports.

After leaving gifts of around £330,000 to family members and former colleagues, My Syson wished that the remainder of his estate should be given to the William Syson Charitable Foundation.

This act of generosity will see grants made to organisations in Scotland dedicated to the arts and music.

Set up by Mr Syson in 2012, the foundation has already made a number of donations to good causes. Its objectives have been described as “the advancement of the arts, heritage and culture, including promoting, developing and ensuring the practice and enjoyment of the arts, including music, the visual arts, theatre and literature”.

The foundation is also committed to the “prevention or relief of poverty” and “the advancement of education, including advancing the appreciation and knowledge of art by the preservation of paintings and ensuring that these are displayed or exhibited for the education and enjoyment of members of the public”.