Today was Nick Hine's funeral and Taunton Crematorium was full to standing with Steph and Nick's extended family. Nick's favourite music was played and tributes from Steph, JB and Bob were made. We will all miss him dearly.
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| Nick loved flying in DG505 |
and for those who missed JB's tribute to Nick:
"My first recollection of Nick was when he was a just small boy playing on the swings opposite the front door of the Gliding Club. He was a happy child and always had a big smile on his face, - except when he fell over!
I remember back at that time his dad, Julian, telling me; “Nick doesn’t find learning easy – he’s not dim or anything, but he’s just …not normal.”
And nearly fifty years ago there wasn’t much awareness of the Autistic Spectrum. Back then a child was either normal or not, and there wasn’t much help for the ‘Nots’.
We now know that Nick was very intelligent, but as he developed, maybe because he wanted so much to be able to express himself, he tended to ‘clutter’ his words, and despite elocution training as a child, this trait stayed with him throughout his life . Yet when he talked on the phone or radio – his diction was perfect!
Over time with support from Steph, Chris and some very good friends, Nick developed his independence and lived very happily on his own in Tiverton, with the Gliding Club becoming his second home and extended family.
Many of us only knew him through gliding, but Nick had a wide range of interests and lots of friends outside of gliding. Allegedly he was a bit of a demon at skittles too!
To me, Nick was Mr Cautious; Never one to rush into anything, his first response when asked to try something new would usually be “……No thank you” or just a stoic “I’ll think about it”.
In the land of Hares and Tortoises, Nick would have been in Team Tortoise! But, like the good old tortoise, he was Determined and once he decided to do something, he’d persevere until it was done! This made him a successful fund raiser. He’s raised thousands of pounds for a number of charities over the years. But I think his most epic fund-raising event was the Parachute Jump.
When he said what he was going to do, I was very surprised;
Why anyone would jump out of a serviceable aeroplane entrusting their life to a bag of rags beats me! – Mr Cautious? But he did it…. When he walked out to board the Jump plane he’d got on his ‘Nick the Stoic’ face.
But when he returned he was grinning from ear to ear! I asked “how did that go then?” He replied “Awesome!” - He raised a £900 for Leonard Cheshire Homes with that one.
About 18 years ago he decided to join the Club expedition to Portmoak in Scotland.
He got himself to the arranged pick up point at some ungodly hour in the morning with his suitcase, sandwiches, drink and (as he put it) ‘a grand assortment sweets for the journey.’
Pete Warren, realising that to get there on time he’d probably had little or no sleep said, “Nick, you must be knackered mate! Why don’t you have a kip for an hour or two? - I don’t mind.”
To which Nick replied, “No way! I haven’t been to Scotland before – I want to see it all!”
He was probably the best log keeper that gliding has ever seen. He amazed the people at Portmoak with his faultless attention to detail and ability to remember who was who. Pete soon realised that his powers of observation were outstanding too. When they were flying, he not only spotted all the gliders, he knew what they were and the names of pilots too! – Including the Scottish pilots!
And on returning to North Hill when Pete was transferring their Scottish flights on to our Club’s computer, Nick was sitting quietly across the table, watching.
Suddenly he said, “No Pete - That’s wrong, you’ve missed 20 minutes off that one - he had 5 hrs 20!”
He could spot in an instant if something was wrong and I suspect most of us glider pilots here today have, at one time or another, been chastised over the launch point loud speaker for leaving a “canopy unattended!”
He was awarded the Wiley Old Bird trophy for his uncanny Wileyness! Somehow he always knew what was going on – even when he wasn’t there! He always managed to get to where he wanted to go, despite having no transport of his own, And he always seemed to be at the right place to lend a hand, - except for the rare occasions when he felt that someone was taking the p….. (Taking unfair advantage of his good nature), and then he got really wiley - and ‘went on strike’!
In fact, He was such a Wily Old Bird that when the year was up and the trophy had to be awarded to someone else, it was unanimously decided that Nick should be made the Grand Master - Wiley old Bird and carry out all future Wiley Old Bird presentations! I must say, he was very amused at this and with good humour wore his Grand Master – Wiley Old Bird Tee shirt and presented the Trophy at every AGM thereafter; Except the last one, when he wore it, but was too ill to do the presentation.
I could go on, - but I don’t need to, - you all knew him
Gentle
Considerate
Determined
Observant - amazing memory
Generous – with his time, his kindness, his sweets and gluten free cake!
Funny
Stoic
And latterly, so Brave
No, Nick was not normal,
He was very Very Special
He was the Unsung Hero of the gliding club
And when we remember him - It will be with fond smile . - JB
I remember back at that time his dad, Julian, telling me; “Nick doesn’t find learning easy – he’s not dim or anything, but he’s just …not normal.”
And nearly fifty years ago there wasn’t much awareness of the Autistic Spectrum. Back then a child was either normal or not, and there wasn’t much help for the ‘Nots’.
We now know that Nick was very intelligent, but as he developed, maybe because he wanted so much to be able to express himself, he tended to ‘clutter’ his words, and despite elocution training as a child, this trait stayed with him throughout his life . Yet when he talked on the phone or radio – his diction was perfect!
Over time with support from Steph, Chris and some very good friends, Nick developed his independence and lived very happily on his own in Tiverton, with the Gliding Club becoming his second home and extended family.
Many of us only knew him through gliding, but Nick had a wide range of interests and lots of friends outside of gliding. Allegedly he was a bit of a demon at skittles too!
To me, Nick was Mr Cautious; Never one to rush into anything, his first response when asked to try something new would usually be “……No thank you” or just a stoic “I’ll think about it”.
In the land of Hares and Tortoises, Nick would have been in Team Tortoise! But, like the good old tortoise, he was Determined and once he decided to do something, he’d persevere until it was done! This made him a successful fund raiser. He’s raised thousands of pounds for a number of charities over the years. But I think his most epic fund-raising event was the Parachute Jump.
When he said what he was going to do, I was very surprised;
Why anyone would jump out of a serviceable aeroplane entrusting their life to a bag of rags beats me! – Mr Cautious? But he did it…. When he walked out to board the Jump plane he’d got on his ‘Nick the Stoic’ face.
But when he returned he was grinning from ear to ear! I asked “how did that go then?” He replied “Awesome!” - He raised a £900 for Leonard Cheshire Homes with that one.
About 18 years ago he decided to join the Club expedition to Portmoak in Scotland.
He got himself to the arranged pick up point at some ungodly hour in the morning with his suitcase, sandwiches, drink and (as he put it) ‘a grand assortment sweets for the journey.’
Pete Warren, realising that to get there on time he’d probably had little or no sleep said, “Nick, you must be knackered mate! Why don’t you have a kip for an hour or two? - I don’t mind.”
To which Nick replied, “No way! I haven’t been to Scotland before – I want to see it all!”
He was probably the best log keeper that gliding has ever seen. He amazed the people at Portmoak with his faultless attention to detail and ability to remember who was who. Pete soon realised that his powers of observation were outstanding too. When they were flying, he not only spotted all the gliders, he knew what they were and the names of pilots too! – Including the Scottish pilots!
And on returning to North Hill when Pete was transferring their Scottish flights on to our Club’s computer, Nick was sitting quietly across the table, watching.
Suddenly he said, “No Pete - That’s wrong, you’ve missed 20 minutes off that one - he had 5 hrs 20!”
He could spot in an instant if something was wrong and I suspect most of us glider pilots here today have, at one time or another, been chastised over the launch point loud speaker for leaving a “canopy unattended!”
He was awarded the Wiley Old Bird trophy for his uncanny Wileyness! Somehow he always knew what was going on – even when he wasn’t there! He always managed to get to where he wanted to go, despite having no transport of his own, And he always seemed to be at the right place to lend a hand, - except for the rare occasions when he felt that someone was taking the p….. (Taking unfair advantage of his good nature), and then he got really wiley - and ‘went on strike’!
In fact, He was such a Wily Old Bird that when the year was up and the trophy had to be awarded to someone else, it was unanimously decided that Nick should be made the Grand Master - Wiley old Bird and carry out all future Wiley Old Bird presentations! I must say, he was very amused at this and with good humour wore his Grand Master – Wiley Old Bird Tee shirt and presented the Trophy at every AGM thereafter; Except the last one, when he wore it, but was too ill to do the presentation.
I could go on, - but I don’t need to, - you all knew him
Gentle
Considerate
Determined
Observant - amazing memory
Generous – with his time, his kindness, his sweets and gluten free cake!
Funny
Stoic
And latterly, so Brave
No, Nick was not normal,
He was very Very Special
He was the Unsung Hero of the gliding club
And when we remember him - It will be with fond smile . - JB
