So many happy memories of working with Nick during our days with NeSA CSD in Rotterdam and North Sea operations out of Aberdeen, Great Yarmouth and other ports. Those were great days and Nick was one of the best. So sad to see this on a general check on where old friends might be. Ian Gordon.

To Diane and Family: I offer my sincere condolences… I’m so terribly sad and sorry for you all… as Nick may have put it in football jargon, “ you was robbed”. I think back to the good old days at Liverpool Polytechnic… Nick and I used to study together after lectures to try and make sense of what we had just heard… all aided by a few beers of course which didn’t exactly sharpen our minds. As you know we picked different study and career paths ... Nick, oceanography with all that tricky math (which eluded me) and he pursuing a career in marine survey… I did a commercial course and ended up running a shipping line and a railroad company. Thanks to you and Cecilia we were able keep in touch over the years through the annual exchange of Christmas cards… it’s such a pity that we were unable to meet up… Cecilia and I always enjoyed your company and always had a good old laugh at what were in retrospect “simpler times”. I spoke to Nick a couple times in more recent years, but he never let on that he had been battling cancer… it must have part of that stoic Liverpudlian mindset (which he must have acquired since I see he was born in in the Downham Market) of “don’t let the bastards grind you down… carry on” All of the above brings me round to saying that as time just flies by, the only really important thing in life is to focus on are family and friends… it’s a comfort to know that you have Matt and Amy and grand kids to help you through a period of grieving and adjustment. All my very best... and Nick... rest in peace Michael

So so sad to hear of the news of Nick’s passing. He had battled bravely with his cancer and despite everything he was going through you rarely heard a word about his illness. We met Nick and Diane (Matt and Amy too!) late in life when we were on contract in Houston in 1999. It was at a “Brits Party” surprise, surprise and although it was only 20 yrs ago it feels we have been life long friends. Mutual enjoyment of DIY projects, classic cars, ( sore point for Lynne & Diane), food, whiskey and social get togethers, we found we had a lot in common. Most weekends found Nick and Ian searching hardware stores looking for and collecting materials for the “next project “. One such project was the gazebo for Nick and Diane’s garden which Nick had meticulously designed and he asked for my (Ian’s) help in fitting the roof. What Nick didn’t realise is I have a fairly strong streak of clumsiness which I ably demonstrated by falling head over heals off the roof into his hot tub. The Gazebo became an early focal point for our social gatherings and many a night was spent there enjoying a few whiskeys. In a similar vein was the New Orleans Realator Thanksgiving Weekend in Cancun!! The weather was miserable but the company and evening entertainment was brilliant. There are so many ways in which to measure one’s success in life but friendship must be one of the most important. It is a testament to Nick and Diane that in such a short time their friendship has become so significant in our lives and Nick will be so sorely missed. Rest well my dear dear friend. Ian & Lynne Calder Aberdeen