I met Nick when he transferred from another local school to the lower 6th at my school. He seemed markedly different to the average bod at that school. He was, even then, irrepressible, full of
(sometimes whacky) ideas, positivity and enthusiasm - we hit it off right away.
Those "pied-piper" character traits led to some very memorable events, often bordering on seriously " inadvisable" ( but you just couldn't say no). Nick was tough and cheerfully expected others to perform similarly - take my early 80's introduction to skiing ..... he dismissed any suggestion I should get some training in advance, saying I'd "be fine".
It transpired that the Barlow ski school involved taking newbies straight to the top of the mountain, the only way down being a narrow, icy red-run framed by precipitous drops to the side!
Then there was his idea of mountain biking for beginners - he very easily convinced a friend and me to hire the latest 80's MTBs (not very capable by today's standards), selecting as our "maiden" ride the "double-black", 60-mile Dark Peak loop. Ten hours in, "utterly exhausted" was far too mild a term.
But, his judgement as to our capabilities and how much to push/ support people was spot-on, these two sports being my two favourites to this day. Put simply, Nick got the very best out of people but deftly avoided "shredding" them in the process.
There were other adventures including walking Offas Dyke ( where he coined the enduring phrase - in a broad Welsh accent - " my shins are Shatt-er-ed").
Also, a fortnight sailing a rented Moody 30 around Bute and Arran - a bit too exciting for my wife Jane, and Teresa - especially when the warship 0.25 miles distant flashed warnings to keep away, then took to the megaphone ..... it was apparently attending to a submarine beneath it! I remember Teresa reaching for the rum. Great times - I loved it, and sailing became Nick's passion of course.
We both had a great interest in cars, and I recall some narrow escapes ("climb into the glove box" moments) in a Morris Minor Traveller, various MG BGTs, a Trumph Vitesse and Toledo (odd choice?) and a Reliant Scimitar. I distinctly recall the rear of the Scimitar being heaved back and forth across a dual carriageway like a pendulum, due to a badly set up 4-wheel car trailer. After putting up a valiant struggle, Nick uttered the terrifying and unforgettable words " I'm going to dump it" - before jack-knifing the whole rig on the grass verge. Scary!
Nick had such a magnetic personality that just one year in the lower 6th and a few years thereafter (he moved to Rolls Royce and had a couple of other jobs before joining the RAF and moving away) secured a lifetime friendship. I was honoured to be the best man at his and Teresa's wedding (I must have been a low-risk option, or others declined or were absent).
As everyone knows, he was great at keeping in touch and it was always easy to pick up where we left off, even though work and family meant we met only rarely.
It seemed brilliant when, two years ago, events dictated his return to Derby made sense. He had been retired a few years and I retired just this March. Needless to say, we had plans which, sadly, we can't now play through.
It was a joy and a privelege to have known this exceptional man. Upbeat, adventurous, clever and practical, determined and unflappable, utterly reliable and overwhelmingly generous - to all of my family, not just me and Jane. Nothing was ever too much trouble for Nick.
Whilst I'll always respect his legacy by aspiring to emulate his great qualities, the fact is that he was a one-off. The world is a poorer pace without him. My family and I will miss him terribly.
So long, Red Leader.
I met Nick when he transferred from another local school to the lower 6th at my school. He seemed markedly different to the average bod at that school. He was, even then, irrepressible, full of
(sometimes whacky) ideas, positivity and enthusiasm - we hit it off right away.
Those "pied-piper" character traits led to some very memorable events, often bordering on seriously " inadvisable" ( but you just couldn't say no). Nick was tough and cheerfully expected others to perform similarly - take my early 80's introduction to skiing ..... he dismissed any suggestion I should get some training in advance, saying I'd "be fine".
It transpired that the Barlow ski school involved taking newbies straight to the top of the mountain, the only way down being a narrow, icy red-run framed by precipitous drops to the side!
Then there was his idea of mountain biking for beginners - he very easily convinced a friend and me to hire the latest 80's MTBs (not very capable by today's standards), selecting as our "maiden" ride the "double-black", 60-mile Dark Peak loop. Ten hours in, "utterly exhausted" was far too mild a term.
But, his judgement as to our capabilities and how much to push/ support people was spot-on, these two sports being my two favourites to this day. Put simply, Nick got the very best out of people but deftly avoided "shredding" them in the process.
There were other adventures including walking Offas Dyke ( where he coined the enduring phrase - in a broad Welsh accent - " my shins are Shatt-er-ed").
Also, a fortnight sailing a rented Moody 30 around Bute and Arran - a bit too exciting for my wife Jane, and Teresa - especially when the warship 0.25 miles distant flashed warnings to keep away, then took to the megaphone ..... it was apparently attending to a submarine beneath it! I remember Teresa reaching for the rum. Great times - I loved it, and sailing became Nick's passion of course.
We both had a great interest in cars, and I recall some narrow escapes ("climb into the glove box" moments) in a Morris Minor Traveller, various MG BGTs, a Trumph Vitesse and Toledo (odd choice?) and a Reliant Scimitar. I distinctly recall the rear of the Scimitar being heaved back and forth across a dual carriageway like a pendulum, due to a badly set up 4-wheel car trailer. After putting up a valiant struggle, Nick uttered the terrifying and unforgettable words " I'm going to dump it" - before jack-knifing the whole rig on the grass verge. Scary!
Nick had such a magnetic personality that just one year in the lower 6th and a few years thereafter (he moved to Rolls Royce and had a couple of other jobs before joining the RAF and moving away) secured a lifetime friendship. I was honoured to be the best man at his and Teresa's wedding (I must have been a low-risk option, or others declined or were absent).
As everyone knows, he was great at keeping in touch and it was always easy to pick up where we left off, even though work and family meant we met only rarely.
It seemed brilliant when, two years ago, events dictated his return to Derby made sense. He had been retired a few years and I retired just this March. Needless to say, we had plans which, sadly, we can't now play through.
It was a joy and a privelege to have known this exceptional man. Upbeat, adventurous, clever and practical, determined and unflappable, utterly reliable and overwhelmingly generous - to all of my family, not just me and Jane. Nothing was ever too much trouble for Nick.
Whilst I'll always respect his legacy by aspiring to emulate his great qualities, the fact is that he was a one-off. The world is a poorer pace without him. My family and I will miss him terribly.
So long, Red Leader.
