NEWS BULLETIN
Tribute to Nick
Nicholas Rutherford Sowerby Johnson 14th November 1949 – 17th February 2022
Ever amiable and popular with all, Nick was a proficient Hon Secretary of FEW and an excellent Area Warden covering both the East and Southeast of England. He had been bravely battling with severe illness for some time. Throughout which, he maintained an interest in FEW and retained his typical good humour.
Nick, a retired police officer and freeman of Hale was accomplished in many ways. He was muti-talented, interested in the Arts, in music he could play the piano by ear and had been an actor in his youth. He took part in a BBC radio play called “Blackspot on the Mersey” produced by Alan Ayckbourn when he played the part of James Edward Scully.
Where Nick lived as a child, he had a good view of the Mersey. He discovered that people in the past had been able to ford the river at Runcorn. With some research into the tides, sandbanks, and mudflats he was convinced it would be worth trying himself. This he followed with several successful crossings.
Having joined the Liverpool police as a young cadet he was initially based at various stations, including Lark Lane and Speke. During his police career, Nick moved to London and for a while was stationed at Hackney. He was required to move around London with their policy of ‘tenure’, in order that they couldn’t become too familiar with their area. He ended up at Greenwich, south of the river, where he remained until he retired.
Following his retirement, Nick and his wife Sue were able to enjoy more travelling and sightseeing, firstly in Europe and later by cruising around the world. Nick was a keen gardener and a cook, so much of his interest was to grow vegetables for the table.
In his recreational skills Nick was a competent chess player and a keen astronomer. He was also a member of the Liverpool Police Life Saving Display team. An unusual interest of Nick was his knowledge of mycelium or fungi, he could randomly pick flavoursome edible mushrooms to take home for a meal.
Nick has certainly left an indelible mark and his memory will long remain with many of us. Our sincere condolences are sent to his charming wife Susan. Nick was interred at Allerton Cemetery on Wednesday 9th March 2022.