In 2006, Mark Butters, one of the owners of the Villa, met a man named Michael — a character he describes as a Jesus lookalike, with a long beard, flowing hair, loose trousers, and classic sandals. Michael appeared one day in Swaffham, Norfolk, knocking on the door of a house Mark was building to ask if he needed a carpenter. Wanting to see what he could do, Mark invited him back the next day to hang a door.

When Michael returned, Mark invited him in and watched Michael as he set up his tools, noticing that the very first thing Michael did was set up a music system and started playing 80’s legends like Phil Collins and Talk Talk — which just so happened to be Mark’s favourites. They instantly clicked, and by the end of the day, they were down the local pub, sharing a pint and stories. That’s when Michael first mentioned Corfu — the island he visited every year and hoped to one day retire to. He told Mark about the beauty of the island, the warmth of the people, and that land there was surprisingly affordable. It sparked something in Mark — who’d always dreamed of building abroad.

After a few more chats with Michael, Mark brought the idea to his close friend Gordon, also a property developer. Both intrigued, Mark, Gordon, and Michael booked a trip to Corfu in January 2007 to explore potential land. A local agent took them to a hillside plot just outside the village of Doukades — and the moment Mark and Gordon saw it, they knew. This was the place.

They bought the land, full of excitement for what was to come.

A few months later, Mark and Gordon flew back to Corfu to begin the planning process. Michael was set to join them a few days later — but tragically, just as he was about to board his flight, he suffered a heart attack and passed away.

The news hit hard. Though they’d only known him for a short time, Michael had become a friend — and more than that, he’d unknowingly changed the course of their lives. To honour him, they named the villa Villa Michael — a tribute to the man who introduced them to Corfu and whose spirit now lives on in the place he helped inspire.

Still to this day, Mark describes the whole experience as feeling almost fate-like — the unexpected meeting, Michael’s warm, peaceful nature, and even his trade as a carpenter, which only added to the symbolism. While Mark isn’t a religious man, there’s something about the way their paths crossed — and how, not long after introducing them to Corfu, Michael passed away so suddenly — that has always stayed with him. It’s a story he carries close to his heart, a reminder of how deeply one chance encounter can shape a lifetime.