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I took a keyring of Nik’s today to a competition ,and put it on my carriage so we could have a blast together ❤️

So. Ive been putting off writing this because, for one thing I keep expecting him to walk through the door as if this whole thing has been an elaborate joke, and say something like “Oi Bird! What are you crying for!?….you soft arse!” For another, it has just been too hard to put into words how I feel about Nik. But I’ll have to give it a go now.

The first time I met Nik was the day my relatively new boyfriend at the time, Chris sprung meeting his parents on me with about half an hours notice. I’ll be honest, I was absolutely shitting myself because who on earth would want their son to go out with someone who was going through an acrimonious divorce with two young kids and all the baggage that comes with it!? And also I had already heard stories about Nik turning up to pick up Chris’s sisters from school dressed as Nelly with a plaster on his face.

But within about 2 minutes of meeting Nik and Ali I forgot all about my nerves and joined in the merciless ribbing of Chris. (The picture of Chris cringing that I’ve added is typical of a night spent with Nik and Ali utterly uncomfortable for him, utterly hilarious for me!).

The dynamic was set, and I felt instantly accepted by them both, which was absolutely massive to me. I am so grateful to both Nik and Alison for welcoming me and my kids into their family without batting an eyelid.

I found out quickly that me and Nik shared 2 of the same main interests in life, music and our own kids/family. I was quite “socially precocious” (by that I mean I went out underage) and it turned out I had gone to a few of the same gigs as him (sorry Chris!) when I was about 14 and shared similar stories of going to the Wheel and what music was playing at the time.We talked about music A LOT. Freebird always was/is Niks song as far as I am concerned.

I hadn’t had a father in law in my previous marriage. So I had nothing to compare it to. But honestly, I don’t think anyone could compare to Nik, as he was in a league of his own. He was responsible for the worst hangover I have ever had at work after he had been making me and Alison insanely strong margaritas randomly one Sunday.

He was chuffed that he was the only person to have a beer in the tent we had spent hours decorating for our wedding, (which then got blown away by storm Malik in the early hours of the morning of the wedding. I mean, who has a marquee in January!?) Totally playing down the fact the reason he was there drinking a beer, was that he’d insisted on being there helping us set it all up.

That was Nik. I could ramble on further but we’d be here all day. I know he’d say he “wasn’t arsed” about it, but I just hope he knew how cool I thought he was. Sleep tight Nik.❤️ Lots of love from Catherine

Well Bro what a day yesterday was ! I think you would have approved.

We started with a J.D at your house at 9.30am! Chris did the most amazing speech and did you proud . I think it was fair to say the crematorium was packed to the rafters! Who knew you were Mr popular .

It was lovely to meet so many of your friends and work colleagues and listen to their stories . Even did a speech myself and we had a toast to you!

Most importantly there was drink flowing all day ,which carried on into the evening and got a bit messy.

A great farewell party for a great brother Love you lots Sis

Still in shock that you are gone Nik. I’ve been reminiscing the past 30 odd years, will great difficulty 😢 So many great and funny moments, I just didn’t know which to remind you of.

Probably the one you found the funniest, was when we had all been drinking the falling down pop, just for a change. I was sat looking very green, so you delighted when I started spewing everywhere. Piddling yourself laughing as you poked me and I was sick, every time! 🤢🤮

We had a mutual loving of fast bikes. One time you decided to try scare me. So, I jumped on the back on your bike, Ali looked after the kids, and we sped off to Southwaite Services, the back roads. The very windy back roads, very bloody fast. God, I loved it. When we pulled up to the services, I marched into the shop, bought the kids some sweets and we returned.

I remember you saying you scared yourself, not me! You never tried again 😂

You were such a great friend, even my lads thought the world of you.

You are gonna be a massive miss to Ali, Chris, Sammy & Nikki and grandchildren.

I will try and be there for them, and remind them all how funny and kind you were.

Lastly, all the funny faces you would pull would crack everyone up.

See you on the other side Nik Love Sam xx

Photo of us in Dumfries — Left to Right: Mark, Nik, Donald, Craig, Martin (with Lawrence and Dan in the background).

I still cannot believe Nik has gone.

It’s been a pleasure to meet and work with him for 40 years. He was always there at social events, good crack at work — whether on a spare or a break, sitting on a seat at the top of Northumberland Street in Newcastle for an hour, or walking around Leeds city centre with a trip into the record fair at the Corn Exchange, with Nik telling me how much the heavy metal vinyls were worth.

Nik made work feel less like a job and more like a day out with your pal. A friendly manager once said to me: “You probably spend more time with people at work than you do with your own family, working these shifts.” Well, I cannot think of anyone else than Nik Brown I’d rather have had the pleasure to know, and to crack on with over a coffee (and a green tea for Nik).

He loved recalling all his trips abroad — Lanzarote, Cuba, and his visit to the Havana Club with Ali. His passion for motorbikes, his trips to Donny, his heavy metal bands and concerts, and chilling out with his best pal Paul Carpenter — he was living life to the fullest.

I always thought Nik was a guy who would live to a hundred plus, being chilled out, never flustered, taking everything in his stride, and never seeming to look any older. He was a friend to everyone who met him.

It’s devastating for Ali, Chris, Sammy, Nikki, and the rest of his family — including the dogs he talked about endlessly. He was a proud husband, father, son, and grandfather.

Memories of Nik always bring back a smile: from him walking into the signing-on point as a traction trainee, to seeing him covered in coal dust from shovelling coal on the steam train between Carlisle and Kirkby Stephen — and still having that grin! He spoke of holidays with the family in southern Scotland, at Gatehouse of Fleet if I recall — he said it was fantastic.

We talked often of our own kids, now grown up with families of their own. That wicked sense of humour, always up for a laugh, was just part of who Nik was.

When my time comes to climb that stairway, I can just imagine Nik peering behind those gates, whispering: “Ozzy, Lemmy, turn up those amps to full! Bully (Neil Bulman, Nik’s friend), grab that guitar — we’ll blast him off those steps!”

This time, I won’t be up those ladders cleaning the gutters as Nik blasts the car horn all the way up the street with his cheeky grin.

It was a pleasure to meet and work with you, Nik. Until tomorrow and beyond — too many memories to ever forget you, pal. We all miss you.

— Martin Robertshaw

Watching the sunset in Venice and having a beer in memory of Nik – mainly because I know he’d have laughed his bollocks off at me paying €14 for 1 Moretti!

Cameron Green

From Andy Lee

Bloody hell, Nik.

I can’t actually believe I’m writing something like this. I’ve been pretty angry at the world since you left — once again, one of the good ones gone far too soon. But enough of that self-pity nonsense, because I know you would’ve rolled your eyes, let out that big “HA!”, and told me to get a grip.

When I was a conductor and you were my driver, I always knew I was in for a stress-free day. It would start with that trademark cheeky smile, and usually a retort about how if there was a blanket speed restriction, you’d be blasting straight through it. No time for that foolishness!

In a world that’s constantly regulated, you were a breath of fresh air. You reminded everyone lucky enough to know you that most of it was nonsense — and that it was far better to just press on, laugh, and get the job done.

Nik, you weren’t just a colleague, you were a mate — one of the good ones. Someone who made long days shorter and tough times lighter. I’ll miss your humor, your outlook, and the way you made life feel that bit less heavy.

I remember how chuffed Rachael was when she took over your number when you retired.

This is us on your retirement do, I look a bit worse for wear, I think I must of passed that on by the end of the night as I remember you propping up the bar with Mr Dunbar in the roadhouse.

So thank you, for every smile, every laugh, every moment you shared with us. You may have left far too soon, but you’ll never be forgotten.

Love to Ali, Chris, Sammy, Nikki & the rest of the family and friends who have the tough challenge of navigating existence without you.

Rest easy, mate.

Mike

I have struggled to get my head round the fact that Nik is no longer here. In such a short time I have lost my two original railway buddies with the passing of Neil Bulman only a few weeks earlier.
I started with Nik as a trainee driver or second man as it was known in the eighties and as we were the two oldest we were paired together. We did all our training together that included rules, traction and routes.

We were really two opposites in character. I liked sports and exercise he didn’t, he liked bikes and heavy metal I didn’t. I think you can get the picture but despite this we hit it off right away and were close friends, in later years we ended up working for different companies so I didn’t see him as much though we’d still meet each other in the messroom, station or at a welfare do and crack and laugh as normal.

There are many railway memories to tell but I’ll not forget the day Nik offered to service my car. So one Saturday morning I took my car over to Greengarth where he lived at the time. He duly done the business and I drove back home to Harraby. That afternoon I was playing football at Cleator Moor and it was my turn to drive. I set off down Eastern way, no problem, got on to London Road, that was when I noticed the smoke. By the time I got to St Nicholas you would have thought the Flying Scotsman was behind me. I had to abandon the car and get picked up. It turned out he had opened the wrong drain plug and emptied the gearbox of oil whilst topping up and doubling the oil in the sump!!
We laughed about his expertise but I don’t think I would have been laughing so much had the gearbox seized though I suspect Nik would have just chuckled, shrugged and lost no sleep whatsoever over it. Needless to say despite his offers I never let him near my car again 😂.

It was such a shock to get a message to say he had gone as I had no idea he was ill. I feel so sad that I won’t see him again but I’ll never forget him we have too much history and memories for that.

Dolly

I have so much I want to say about Nik, but I’m leaving it until I can try to fathom how we are even here, nevermind how I even put into words what he means to me!? So in the mean time, here’s me with the best father in law a girl could ever wish for, plus some extra tag along. No idea where he came from.. 🤔

Nik is the sort of bloke you meet very few of in a lifetime – kind, funny, considerate and incredibly caring, all while trying to pretend to be deeply cynical. Everyone knew he was a true gentleman through and through though. The photo is of us at Flat Iron on his final Leeds job at work where we went for steak and chips on our break – only on the railway ey! Discovering he’d taken our picture with him on his Australian adventure was iconic and meant the world to me. I do and will always miss him greatly.
Much love, Cameron x

Had many a conversation with Nik,usually about his beloved dogs. Such a lovely man taken far too soon. My condolences to all Niks family & friends.Green signals all the way my friend.

Suzie Gough Newcastle Driver 🚂

I’d only known Nik since my husband Andy started at Northern about 6 years ago but I knew him to be a really good guy with a brilliant sense of humor and a no nonsense attitude. What a guy! RIP Nik, it was a pleasure to have known you.

Paula Brown xx

Nik, taken to early Bro-In-law always a Rock by our-sides. You played such an important part of our amazing day in 2014, from carrying your Mum off the boat onto the beach so she didn’t get her dress wet to being my brother by my side when I married your little Sis and feeling so nervous, you settled my nerves and welcomed me into your family. Love you dude 😎

The first time I met Nik was in the Kings Head with Cal. He introduced me and Nik immediately bought me a triple vodka, the first of many drunken evenings with him over the years!

The first Christmas Eve drinks I went to at the Museum with Chris, Nik and Ali I (stupidly) tried to keep up pint for pint. After throwing up during present opening the next day I swore I’d do better next year. Year after I tried with halves, no throwing up but I was still not well!

Best drinks at the Mue has to be the time I got Chris a present and told him not to open it in front of his parents (I didn’t know them that well at that point) which he immediately ignored. Nik was highly amused by the wind up plastic couple from Anne Summers I’d bought as a joke gift. He spent the rest of the evening winding it up and watching it bounce across the table!

There are too many nights out, too many stories and too many lost memories to mention. He was one of a kind and will be missed so much by everyone who knew him. I feel privileged that I got to both know him and spend time with him over the years. Miss you Nik, beer festivals won’t be the same without you.

Amie xxx

Hi Bro Still can’t believe you are not here 😭. I bought this bracelet today to wear for your party on Friday: A. Because it’s your favorite colour, but B. Because of the meaning of the stone 🤣 Thought you may appreciate it

Sue x

A fantastic few days in Belfast, watching the Foo fighters and laughing from start to finish.

Lorraine x

This picture was taken on his last day working for Northern trains.The picture of him leaning out of the window giving the V sign that was posted in the messroom that day, really made me smile and was so typical of him.I was privileged to know this great man and he was someone i could only aspire to be like.A funny guy, passionate about his music, and a staunch trade unionist.Everyone at Carlisle depot will miss him.Rest In Peace old friend.