My Dearest beloved son Nik.
Born August 2nd 1964 and taken from me August 30th 2025.
I am lost without you as you were my rock always there when I needed you.
I am devastated and heartbroken.
You are in my heart forever.
All my love Mam xxx
Some old pictures of a young me with my dad.
You were an amazing father.
Love you
Chris xx
Very much unlike my dad to avoid an argument about music where there was one to be found, I guess he just liked both bands and thought the public spats about who was better to lessen the music so just listened to both, on the same tape which I’m sure would have been a kick in the teeth to Liam if he ever found out 🙂
26th August 2014….Nik had just helped me move house(again!) out to Canonbie, where we are having a well earned can or two. He even dismantled our pine wardrobe to get it up the tiny narrow stairs and then put it back together. My friend for around 40 years, we’ve had days out in just about every UK city over the years. A man at the top of his job, respected, liked and loved by all who knew him. I’ll miss you my friend. xx  Â
Paul Carpenter.
Not being technically savvy (his words) Mark Eilbeck shared this on Facebook, I’ve copied it here so it’s included.
I’ve got lots of memories of Nik both at work and socially. The one that always brings a smile to my face goes back to Christmas 2001. Us conductors had been on strike for a year so the drivers took us out and bought our drinks. On the particular day, Joe Strummer had died so in the Rambler me and Nik were hogging the jukebox playing Clash songs.
After a while 2 young lasses came and told us they wanted to play Christmas songs. Nik being the festive soul he was told them feck off somewhere else if they wanted Christmas shite! One of the best taken far too soon.
When all three of us were in secondary school, Dad turned up to pick up wearing a plaster on his face like Nelly the rapper. The girls were so embarrassed one of them, I can’t remember which refused to get in the car.
A classic practical joke, by an amazing practical joker, who loved to have fun and take the mickey at every available opportunity.
I met Nik and Ali not long after my husband Roger became a train driver with Northern at Carlisle, after working as a conductor for a few years. We had an impromptu sesh at the Sportsman Pub and mutual admiration was felt all round. It proved to be a rocky period for Roger as he ascended to the role as DTM I always knew he had Nik’s loyalty as they both recognised each other as decent blokes.
We suggested so many times meeting up again for drinks and managed a fabulous session last year which ended up in the West Walls Brewery where this photo was taken.
After his retirement I wanted us to meet up with Nik and Ali more and they were invited to our cheesy 1970s garden party in July but Nik messaged to say he wasn’t well enough to come, the first inkling we had about his health.
We are both so gutted to lose him. He was the loveliest bloke and we should have spent more time with him but we were glad to visit him in Newcastle and have a few laughs together.
Rest in peace, Nik, we miss you so very much xx
He was an amazing Grandfather to all his grandchildren, doting on them endlessly, making them crack up with his jokes and general persona. Anyone who ever seen him with those Kids could see that instantly.
When Alisanne was on the way I bought him this t-shirt
An example of his playfulness with the kids is below, no children were traumatized in the making of this scene.
He was always trying to make everyone laugh and elicit smiles from us.
I don’t have any photos of this one but when I was young me and my sisters were watching Charlie and the Chocolate factory in the living room, and he’d snuck out to the shop to buy three massive chocolate bars, he told us he’d been to get them from Willy Wonka and in childlike wonder at the time I believed him.
It kills me that he’s not here to continue doing those things for all the children.
When my dad introduced me to this song. He thought it was hilarious, more so when we’d listened to it once or twice and I started singing along.
I still crack up when I hear this song now seeing the smile on his face as we sang about the Captains Daughter together!!
My Dad’s ZXR, he had this when I was a child until I was in my mid teens at least and went out on it at any given opportunity between work and life and Carlisle’s unpredictable weather patterns.
I would often be allowed to go on the back to, for a blast through the countryside and a bacon sandwich somewhere far from home.
This was amazing as a kid, my Dad even bought a special belt to wear with handles on the sides for me to hold onto, he thought of everything.
