Robert died on the 19th February 2026 and Ken died on the 1st May 2026.

 

S A Payne is the company they operated as a property development and investment company. They became one of my largest private clients since 1991. They also became business partners and good friends. Ken was the best man at my wedding.

 

Originally from Essex, they came to the Island in 1969. They set up a tomato growing business in the Arreton Valley and became one of the most influential parts of this now huge business by growing tomatoes on a large scale with appropriate marketing and promoting the Island as one of the best growing areas in Europe. 

 

They became very much part and parcel of the horticulture business and worked with the Verey and Parker family, helping to expand horticulture on the Island. At the ripe old age of 51 and 48, they sold the business to the Parker family in 1991 and started a whole new business in property development and investment based on the Island.

 

The Christopher Scott practice has been involved since the start for 35 years.

 

I am deeply privileged to have worked with these two outstanding men, bringing forward several opportunities and working now with the next generation with Neil and Nick Payne.

 

They wanted to be one of the largest players on the Island, but were very careful in carrying out the role, not only in residential development but on a commercial development basis. This gave them long term commercial growth and success, and they always had a Plan A, Plan B and Plan C.

 

They were old school and true gentlemen, and their word was their bond.

 

In the early days, planning applications were quite straightforward, taking 2-4 months to achieve as opposed to them taking some years now.

 

DEVELOPMENTS INCLUDED:

 

1. Binstead Bakery, Binstead (1992/3)

2. Port La Salle, Eastmore Court, Yarmouth

3. Langtry Place, Cowes

4. Egypt Hill, Cowes

5. Sydenhams, Newport

6. Langley Court, Newport.

7. Nicholson Road, Ryde