The material stuff is a headache in itself, but it's the vacuum created when someone's no longer compis mentis which causes the protracted ordeal of stepping up to take charge. Don't even think of the paperwork coming your way or you'll surely say no!
Further to the above, you will have to spend time discussing more than just "who do you want to give that Bentley to once you're gone?" What happens if your friend falls ill / ends up in prison for the rest of his days / disappears in a canoe? You really need a deep friendship - love? - to get involved; one where you can make 'executive' decisions knowing you have that authority.
Yup.
Not touching this one with a very large stick.
Thank you all for your advice.
Maybe your friend will name his first born son after you - that would also be an honour.
Slightly off topic... My question ... If you are an Executor for a British Will, is there a document you would be asked to sign to agree , or , if close family is it just you are named as one?
You are just named. The asking is out of politeness but also to check if the executor is willing to carry out the function as the executor can always refuse the obligation at any stage. I and my sister (living in NY) were executors of our parents wills. Pain in the arse dealing with the paperwork, being abroad did not really affect the situation.
Sadly I had to do this from CH for both my parents in the UK, they were separated and both single at the time of their deaths. There are no legal restrictions on doing this.
My Mother's records were an unorganised mess, it was only that her financial interests were relatively small and simple that allowed me to complete matters in a reasonable time. I took in total probably a month in the UK off work to visit all the companies and officials needed to get everything done including sale of her house and car and sorting out the funeral arrangements etc.
My Father's records - despite his alleged good organisation - were also an utter mess, compounded by him having quite a lot of UK and foreign interests and assets. This time I took probably 6 weeks in the UK off work in total, but the efforts continued from CH for another year to sell his house and another 2 years again until the last item (some US shares held in a US stockbroker) were resolved. Then I had to deal with HMRC over an IHT refund because of overpaid IHT due to house price falls between the date of his death and the date of exchange of sales contracts.
My strong advice: if it's for family and you are the best person in the family to do it then agree to do it, but understand it will take more time and effort and cause more frustration than you would imagine - however in your case since it it's for a friend you should turn it down on the grounds of impracticality.