A dad is preparing to open up the latest of fourteen years worth of presents after being "knocked off his feet" by his neighbour one Christmas Eve.
Ken Watson, who was 87 when he died, lived near to Owen and Caroline Williams for the last two years of his life, and befriended their daughter Cadi, then two. After Ken died, Owen opened the door one evening to find Ken's daughter Jenny stood there with a binbag.
Ken had left a sack full of presents for Cadi, one for each Christmas until she turns 16.
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The family were "knocked off their feet" by his generosity, and started a tradition of Cadi opening her "Ken gift" every Christmas Eve. The first gift Cadi opened in 2018 was a book, Christmas Eve at the Mellops, by Romi Ungerer.
In 2019 there was a cuddly goat, a train set spelling "Cadi" was 2020's gift and last year she opened a giant Crayola colouring book. All the presents are wrapped so the family, from Barry, Wales, have no idea what's inside.
But Cadi, now six, is looking forward to opening Ken's fifth gift on Saturday. Owen is keeping Ken's kindness alive by sharing each gift online to encourage people to #BeMoreKen, and get to know their neighbours.
Owen, 44, a managing director of a social agency, said: "It was a rainy windy night and I was getting Cadi ready for bed. There was a knock at the door, and it was my neighbour's daughter, Jenny, clutching a large binbag.
"I thought it was rubbish that needed to go out, but she said these are the gifts my dad has put away for Cadi. It was confounding, magical, ridiculous and heart-warming. It knocked me off my feet but in the best way possible."
Owen said he took to Twitter to ask if he should open all the presents, so they'd know which was for each year, and rewrap - or do a lucky dip until 2032. He said thousands of people voted, with the lucky dip idea winning with 68% of the vote.
Owen said: "Ken was a former salvage diver, seaman, carpenter and baker. I remember him playing his accordion at night and sometimes still think I can hear his 'oompah' music. The first time I met him was in September 2015, I wanted to give him a bottle and say hello. He was on top of a ladder at the age of 83, in a blue boiler suit painting.
"The ladder was like a pogo stick, he was 20ft up in the air. I looked across to Lloyd, who lives across the street, and we both mouthed 'what the heck?'"
Ken didn't have any grandchildren of his own and adored Cadi, as if she were his own. For her first birthday, he gifted her a giant cuddly Lion, called Elvis, and he went on to buy them for every child on the street, at £20 each.
Owen added: "He was a Santa-esque figure."
When Ken passed away in 2018 from cancer, his neighbours were devastated. Owen now hopes to inspire others to get to know their neighbours this Christmas. He said: "We all have a neighbour, they live above, below and besides you. You never know what doors might be opened by opening a door."
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