A floral pedestal has been sponsored in memory of a well-respected historian who died last year.

Richard Webb sponsored the display in memory of Don Collinson who lived in Kingswear. He died last year, aged 98, leaving his widow Kathleen, daughter Donna and grandson Jasper.

Richard was Don’s publisher and his book The Chronicles of Dartmouth 1854-1954 was published in association with the Dartmouth Chronicle.

It was published in 2000 and went on to become a best seller, being reprinted three times. It also won the Devon Book of the Year Award in 2000.

The triple hanging basket in Don’s honour is at the corner of the boatfloat and was created and planted by Dartmouth Green Partnerships.

While living in Kingswear, Don discovered his interest in history. It came to the forefront when driving over Dartmoor and ending up in Kingsbridge when he discovered the original bound Victorian Dartmouth Chronicle stored in the library.

Reinventing himself as a historian, Don spent the next 15 years researching for his acclaimed book The Chronicles of Dartmouth, published by Richard when Don was 80.

He started recording and created an archive material. Richard saw this and saw the potential of a book which encouraged Don to create a record of 100 years from 1854.

The book was a 300 page illustrated volume of 125,000 words and a collection of 468 illustrations.

Don and Richard also worked together on another project. They noticed that both Dartmouth and Kingswear were home to two distinguished recipients of the Victoria Cross but there was no permanent memorials to these two brave men.

They both researched and organised the co-funding of two special blue plaques. Thus, Corporal Theodore Veale of Dartmouth who was awarded the VC in 1916 and Lt. Col. H Jones awarded the VC in 1982 of Kingswear were honoured.