Obit - Nigel Reed

John N. Reed (FN 52-57).

David Stark (FN 52-57) has sent in the following about his brother-in-law, Nigel Reed.

“Nigel Reed was born in Sunderland and lived in Whitburn on the North East coast. He went to prep schools in Durham (St Marks) and Stocksfield (Mowden Hall). Nigel arrived at St Bees in the autumn of 1952 where we first met - although we only lived a mile or so apart. We soon teamed up with Ian Nimmo and went cycling in the Lakes. On three quarter days we were very ambitious and slogged our way over Hard Knott and Wrynose!

In 1955 Nigel's sister Pamela came to Morning Service one Sunday and I was introduced (nine years later we married!). We both left in the summer of 1957, I to university and later to work in the south. Nigel joined his sister as an articled clerk at their father's firm, John Reed and Co. Chartered Accountants, in South Shields. Friends in the North East will remember Nigel playing rugby at Westoe and rallying with the Northumberland Motor Club, He also raced a ‘blown’ mini he bought from Jackie Stewart - though not with quite the same success.

In 1961 duty called when Nigel's father died very young and Pamela and Nigel took on new duties. John Reed was a distinguished business man in the North East - he was a Director of Sunderland Football Club - there were many responsibilities to discharge.

In 1964 Pamela and I married and Nigel married Judy in 1965. We soon had four children between us and although we moved to London, we kept in touch and holidayed together. This culminated in buying a Narrow Boat with two cabins and a dormitory in between.

Nigel kept the boat on the Wey in Surrey and when retirement loomed, Nigel and Judy decided to move nearer to the inland waterways system (and their daughters!). They bought a lovely house in East Haddon in Northants - three miles from the Grand Union! They were soon busy in retirement - as a retired CA Nigel was much in demand and spent fifteen years as Treasurer on the PCC. In the new boat Jervaux they completed their exploration of the inland waterway system. We often crewed for each other (we kept a boat in Europe).

Nigel passed away in York where he and Judy had recently moved. Ian Nimmo and I were able to say goodbye with Judy and all Nigel's children and grandchildren.”