BORN one of five children, never married and preferred his own company but the late Henry Reddaway has left a Dorset community stunned by his generosity.

The 93-year-old retired linguist, who lived "thriftily", died in February leaving almost his entire £3.5 million estate to charity including ten per cent - £350,000 - to his local place of worship, the Church of the Holy Rood in Shillingstone near Blandford.

Assistant parish priest Rev Geoff Turnock said: "We are extraordinarily grateful and quite taken aback by his generosity.

"It is a substantial amount of money and a lot of planning will have to be made to ensure it is spent wisely.

"Ideas have been explored but it's very early days and with a Grade I listed church you cannot do just anything."

Mr Reddaway, whose other passions included walking and the outdoors, also left substantial amounts to the National Trust, the Friends of the Lake District, King's College Cambridge Appeal Fund, NSPCC and Age Concern, England.

He was well known in Shillingstone where he had retired to live near his sister after working for a Manchester firm as a translator, speaking eight languages.

Many described him fondly as a "character", largely after he hit the headlines last year when he persistently fell foul of the law by driving while banned.

His nephew, also called Henry Reddaway, urged Blandford magistrates to confiscate his uncle's car as he was no longer safe on the road yet vigorously contested his right to drive.

Mr Reddaway said: "My uncle was quite taken with the people of Shillingstone.

"He was born in Cambridge where his father was a professor at the university.

"He himself attended King's College and then went on to work as a linguist in Manchester for Turner & Newall.

"He also served in the war in India and Germany."

"He retired to Shillingstone around 30 or so years ago where he lived comfortably and was very happy."

"He did not spend money on himself but was very generous with others, giving away sums anonymously and in gift aid.

He said: "He was quite a solitary person, not very sociable, but served as treasurer of the church for many years.

Mr Reddaway added: "Shillingstone looked after him very well which is why he rewarded their friendship by leaving ten per cent of his residual estate to the church."