Old Will

[Moadeeb]

Yes I know, a long time ago, more fool me?...
My Mother passed away in 1989, she left a Will, there probably was not much in it, more sentimental value, and has bugged me ever since.
At the time of her death, two days later, my father threw an envelope on the table myself and my sister were sitting at and said "I expect you know what's in that".
We were at the time not in a good place, so left it. The next day it was gone. Fast forward to a couple of years ago I asked my father if I could see her Will. He said she did not have one, she didn't have the money to do one, her money was all his. I later contacted her solicitors who confirmed they have a copy and I needed to provide a death certificate. I did this, but then the solicitors pointed out that myself and my sister were only "Backup Executors", and we would need his permission to see the will. My question is: how can someone be appointed as an executor and then not execute the will, taking any monetary value for themselves? What is the point of a will if it can be ignored or even denied existence?

[Pezza54]

It is possible the solicitor applied for Probate to be appointed executor (remaining named executor), stating on the application form that you and your sister although named executors in the will were reserving power. Your father may have told the solicitor that neither of you were interested in becoming executor or were both too young.
Have you tried searching the Probate Register for your mother's will?
The likelihood is that if your mother owned very little as you say, your father inherited her entire estate