A beautiful thought... £2.3m for seaside town

Canadian Keith Owen, who was 69, made his fortune in the financial industry and travelled the world, but always returned to his favourite place – Sidmouth in Devon.

Mr Owen was born nearby and spent most of his holidays in the coastal town admiring its 
beach, blooms and Regency architecture.

When Mr Owen was told in 2007 he was suffering lung cancer and had just eight weeks to live he 
left the parish his retirement 
fund, pension and a string of properties.

His massive estate – £1.5m in cash and £800,000 from properties – was handed over with a stipulation it had to be spent keeping Sidmouth “beautiful”.

Before he died he also told officials some of the money should be spent on planting one million flower bulbs in the town.

Mr Owen, who was divorced with no children, left all the money to the Sid Vale Association with instructions that the income from his legacy’s investments should be spent locally.

The group has now decided to honour one of his specific suggestions by planting a million bulbs in verges, gardens, lawns and flowerbeds.

The Rev Handel Bennett, vice-chairman of the Sid Vale Association, said: “The SVA, through Keith’s gift to the people of Sidmouth, has in the last five years provided many grants to local voluntary organisations totalling over £400,000.

“Today we are asking the local community to respond to the Plant a Million Bulbs challenge, by volunteering to enhance our natural environment with additional colour.”