A dad was left stunned as his kind neighbour gifted his young daughter a bin bag full of Christmas presents from beyond the grave. Before he died in 2018 aged 87, forward-thinking Ken Watson bought and wrapped enough Christmas gifts to last Cadi until she turns 16
The pensioner lived near Owen and Caroline Williams and and befriended their daughter Cadi, who was two when he passed away. For the last couple of years of Ken's life, he formed a close bond with the Welsh family.
After, Ken passed away, Owen opened the door one evening to find the OAP's daughter, Jenny, standing with a binbag. The contents inside left the father dumbfounded, as it was filled with presents, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Owen 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."
The family were stunned by his generosity, and started a yearly tradition of Cadi opening her 'Ken gift' every Christmas Eve. The first gift she received back in 2018 was a book, Christmas Eve at the Mellops, by Romi Ungerer.
The following year, Cadi was gifted a cuddly goat; a train set spelling 'Cadi' was 2020's gift; and last year she opened a giant Crayola colouring book. Owen took to social media to gauge whether or not he should open all the presents, so they'd know which was for each year, and rewrap - or do a lucky dip until 2032.
The father says thousands of people voted in the poll, with the lucky dip idea winning with 68 per cent 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?'"
When Ken passed away back 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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