Penniless man imagines and builds a property empire

A penniless man persistently imagined for two years that he read his own father's name on a building he passed, and in 1924 a stranger financed his purchase of it on nothing but two signatures; he went on to own property everywhere, took his family into the business while insisting all decisions stayed his, and among other 'mistakes' bought six war-surplus diesel engines that later powered the whole island through a month-long blackout at the height of the tourist season, at a profit. Neville says he heard from this man recently and was at home two years ago when the man wanted to sell one of the properties.