Facing the prospect of unemployment, Brendon Grimshaw decided to take a holiday to the Seychelles. Hailing from Dewsbury, Brendon had carved out a successful career as a newspaper editor across some of East Africa's most prominent publications. However, his 1962 trip to the Seychelles marked a turning point, prompting him to abandon his old life.
The Yorkshireman acquired Moyenne, a diminutive island spanning just half a mile in width, for the modest amount of £8,000. He dedicated his subsequent years to rejuvenating the island's natural beauty and wildlife. Brendon reportedly became enamoured with Moyenne's tranquil silence and its dense, wild greenery and chose to live there in near solitude.
READ MORE Yorkshire woman placed in quarantine after getting 'scary' virus in Bali Before Brendon's intervention, Moyenne had been neglected for many years, so much so that it was rumoured coconuts would get trapped in the thick canopy, never reaching the ground. Some have even compared it to "a tiny rainforest erupting from the ocean", as previously reported by Yorkshire Live . With the assistance of Rene Antoine Lafortune, a 19 year old son of a local fisherman, Brendon began clearing pathways through the dense foliage and planting trees, aiming to revitalise the island.
He also constructed a simple wooden abode for himself. Understanding the importance of wildlife in his vision for the island, Brendan introduced giant tortoises to his slice of paradise. Over time, he lived alongsid.
