The Nick Quintrell Memorial Evening

The evening of Tuesday 30th October saw colleagues and friends of Nick Quintrell gather in the Visitor Centre to remember and celebrate his life.   Nick's sister Tammy and her children, along with Mazie, visited the reserve earlier in the day.  The children participated in the half term events laid on at the Visitor Centre and had made bug hotels and enjoyed  some painting.  Mazie also enjoyed herself catching with old friends and receiving lots of fuss and attention.

Photos celebrating all aspects of Nick's life were on display together with a exhibition of photos loaned from The Shark Trust, a favourite charity.  A memorial scrap book was available for guests to write their special memories and thoughts and to add any photos.  If you were unable to attend the memorial evening, the scrap book will be available in the Visitor Centre for the next two weeks. Please see Danny or Michelle.

A display board charted Nick's competitive sailing years when he was in his early teens; many of the events he participated in were reported in the local papers.  Also on show were photos illustrating his happy Cornish childhood and his favourite rockpooling and fishing beach at Nansidwell in Cornwall, along with pictures of Nick in later years.

Out on the patio Tom, our Wild about Weymouth and Portland Officer was putting his bushcraft skills to good use brewing up a very large and tasty veggie curry.  Very welcome on a clear, sunny but chilly evening. 

Guests brought an array of food and drink to share during the course of the evening.  Mazie was on hand earlier to inspect the food and did a grand job of looking after my handbag which was hiding her doggie bone.  

Kind hearted RSPB staff also included Radipole's ducks in Nick's celebration event as you can see from the photo below.  They must have been the happiest ducks in town!

The event was very well attended with around 90 guests from all areas of Nick's life filling the Visitor Centre; many happy memories of Nick were shared by all amongst the eating, drinking and making merry.

Throughout the evening a presentation compiled by Nick's colleagues ran continuously.  It illustrated a lesser known side of Nick with items ranging from his tastes in music, books, subjects he disliked intensely, his Twitter quotes, environmental concerns to name but a few.

Later in the evening former site manager and close friend Nick Tomlinson gave a short speech and we all raised our glasses and toasted Nick Q. 

The Top Five Nick Q Memories

1. Rescuing the tern colony at Lodmoor
2. Bear hugs
3. Thoughtful blogs
4. Fiendish quizzes
5. Environmental concerns

Nick Q's heroics in rescuing the terns was a subject that was talked about again and again.  RSPB volunteer Jean Watling kindly sent me the photo below, which she took of Nick Q preparing for the rescue while  Luke and Chris look on in their wellies from the flooded path.

Dearest Nick

You touched the lives of many in during your short life on this earth.  Not just the human lives of your family, your friends, your colleagues and the many people you crossed paths with over the years, but also the lives of the birds, the animals, the plants, the insects of the natural world around you. Nick, you are a national rarity and a local legend.  Your presence has made a great difference to everyone you met and our lives are all the richer for knowing you.  We all miss you.    

                                    Farewell Nick, rest in peace, wherever you are.

Acknowledgements

The Dorset Team would like to thank everyone who attended the Memorial Event.  Special thanks to the following in no particular order:

Tom Clarke, Charlie Storey, Luke Phillips, Chris Emblem-English, Nick Tomlinson, Tammy Taylor, Michelle Williams, Danny Bartlett, Mark Singleton, Jenny Goy, Sarah Webb, Lynne Burningham, Naomi Bailey and The Shark Trust,  

Thanks also to RSPB staff, RSPB volunteers and Nick's family and friends for their continuing support during this sad difficult time.