Mr. Brendon Grimshaw, lately of Moyenne Island in the Seychelles, died in July 2012, after being the caretaker of the Moyenne for over 30 years.

He was 87 years old.

The 1-hour documentary of Mr. Grimshaw’s life, called A Grain of Sand, released in 2009 by Wandering Eye Productions, is the latest to chronicle Mr. Grimshaw’s incredible island life, including his heroic stand for the preservation of Moyenne beyond his death.

He originally purchase the land for £8,000 ($10,000 USD) in 1962, moved there in 1973, and doggedly turned down multiple development offers of up to £38 million ($50 million USD).

If he had sold the island at those prices, Mr. Grimshaw would have been recognizing an annualized rate of return of 24%, every year, for 39 years, or a staggering 499,900% increase on his initial “investment.”

But Brendon understood that some things are worth more than money.

Mr. Grimshaw repeatedly made the point that there were tourist hotels for millionaires on the four surrounding islands, so it would make sense to keep Moyenne hotel-free. He lived to see that dream achieved: in 2008, Moyenne was made a National Park in its own right, separate from the surrounding St. Anne Marine Park and, at least for the time being, safe from tourism development.

Over his nearly 40 years of island stewardship, Mr. Grimshaw and his colleague, Rene Antoine Lafortune, planted 16,000 trees, cut 3 miles of nature trail, and introduced giant tortoises to the island which now number upwards of 100. This ecological restoration attracted over 2,000 birds and the island is now said to have one of the highest concentrations of species per square foot of any place in the world.

This is a man who understands the meaning of the terms development, conservation, and also eco-tourism. This is a man who quite literally enriched the world with his daily effort. Brendon Grimshaw proved it is possible to quite literally create Heaven on Earth – through consistent, daily effort.

Rest in peace, Mr. Grimshaw — and know that paradise still exists on Earth, in no small part due to your diligent efforts.

May we all live up to your example.

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