The successful businessman wants to plough millions of pound into the regeneration of Swindon town centre but who is he?

Dr Laurie Marsh was born in 1930 into a family of haberdashers in Lambeth Walk.

After spending time in the army he set up a plastics manufacturing business and was responsible for bringing Disney’s Mickey Mouse to the UK's children.

He was the man behind the English Property Corporation, the UK's third biggest property company, as well as owning four other listed companies, the Kensington, Chelsea and Carnaby Street markets and more than 100 cinemas. He produced over 75 films and founded an international distribution company.

Dr Marsh also restored the UK's biggest paddle steamer, helped create the English National Orchestra and built the New London theatre in Drury Lane.

Since making his fortune Dr Marsh has spent the last few decades embarking on multi-million pound philanthropic ventures.

He set up what is known as a Charitable Finance Initiative, which sees public bodies establish themselves up as charities and develop their assets to produce capital investment funds – and/or investment income.

This is how the Theatre Royal in Bath was funded as well as the Charles Darwin's home at Down House in Kent, the Perse School in Cambridge and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Read about the multi-million pound investment for Swindon on offer