IT was designed to be a lasting legacy in memory of a life cut tragically short.

When Lisa Wilson was killed in a car crash in Australia at the age of 23, her grieving parents were determined that something good would come of her death.

Together, Clive and Trish focused their energy on setting up a scholarship fund in honour of their talented daughter – to help others excel in university just as Lisa had.

And now they are reaping the rewards as their charity marks a milestone by topping £250,000 – providing help for more than 70 promising students so far to fulfill their dreams.

It was in 2002, 12 months after graduating from what was then Southampton Institute with a BA 2.1 in business management, that Lisa was killed while travelling as a passenger in a car to Ayres Rock. The trip of a lifetime had been organised by way of celebration of her achievements.

Following their daughter’s death, Clive and Trish created the Lisa Wilson Scholarship Fund which has drawn support from around the world – including celebrities Elton John and Celine Dion.

And following a charity golf day at East Wellow in which more than 130 people took part, the fund was given a boost of more than £8,000 taking the total to more than a quarter of a million pounds.

Clive, who described his daughter as “a fun loving girl who was adventurous and had a wicked sense of humour”, said the milestone was a fitting tribute.

Thanking people for supporting the charity, he added: “Each £1,000 represents a year in a student’s life and this has now become Lisa’s legacy which is now250 years of education.

“It’s a truly fitting legacy to a lovely young woman who was living her dream.”

Northampton-born Lisa moved the New Forest in 1985 with her parents and two older brothers Scott and Ross. Her dad then worked for Draper Tools at Chandler’s Ford.

Later the family moved back to Northampton and returned to Hampshire in 1991 where they set up home in Romsey. They moved to Nomansland 20 years ago.

Lisa’s brothers work at SES Autoparts, a business which their parents started 23 years ago.