I think the various tributes say it all.
Nick was a great guy and his generosity and friendship touched the lives of many people.
Our two families were always close, living within a few miles of each other in South Hampshire.
Nick's mother was the younger sister of my mother but both of them were the life and sole of the party. A good introduction for Nick on how to host a party.
My first encounter as the oldest of the numerous cousins was as a babysitter for Marion and John when John was in the Forces and they attended various service functions.
I was a teenager in the 6th form, Nick was a baby.
Years later I was a Lt Cdr at HMS Daedalus, Lee-on-Solent and I was a guest with the Cdr to a mess dinner at RAF Thorney Island. When we arrived I found that my personal host was a certain Flt Lt John Shakespear RAF. We had a great evening.
We always enjoyed our visits to Lovedean and seeing Nick and also Mary, Tim and John and Marion. We always had lively discussions about the state of the world!
Numerous memorable parties and barbeques took place at our respective homes.
Latterly Marilyn and I worked with Nick and Mary to clear their Lovedean House. It was interesting but hard work. Buried amongst piles of old newspapers we came across important documents.
On one occasion I had a round of golf with Nick at Stokes Bay Golf Club which I lost of course.
Nick was a man of many talents. He was a volunteer helper at the WW1 airfield at Stow Maries.
He arranged for a visit by Marilyn and me to the airfield and it was an interesting and enjoyable experience. We can thoroughly recommend it.
Our last meeting was also significant. We met for dinner at the Alverbank Hotel, Alverstoke.
This building was used as the Officers Mess for RAF Gosport during WW1 where Major Robert Smith-Barry was a flying instructor in the Royal Flying Corps. He invented the Gosport Tube and taught the world how to train fighter pilots. Nick knew previously about these historic events and they became part of the exhibits at Stow Maries.
A few days later Nick was diagnosed with MND. We will never forget him.