Nigel Carter (1956-1960)
Died on 24th March 2021, aged 78
On the 31st July 2021, a group of Nigel Carter’s friends, together with members of his family and his first wife Jennifer, assembled in a marquee at Cannock Mill in Colchester, Essex. The reason for the gathering was to celebrate Nigel’s life and achievements and comply with his wishes for his ashes to be interred there under a beech tree. As a founder member of the Cannock Mill Co-Housing Community and one of their active professional advisors, he had moved to live in the Community in Colchester from Forest Row in 2016 after the death of his second wife Pam. Many glowing tributes were delivered touching on his professional skills, his musical abilities and his multiple and varied interests.
Nigel was born on 24th May 1942, adopted by loving parents and, sadly, died of cancer at the age of 78 on 24th March 2021. In the Christmas Term of 1956, aged 14 years 4 months, the MTS Blue Book records he was in Upper IV B with David Young (1956-1960), who also attended the Cannock Mill gathering and spoke warmly about his loyalty and friendship. Nigel had a ‘steady’ school academic career which was enhanced and distinguished by his musical contribution to various groups and bands. He was a gifted and skilled jazz guitar and banjo player. Throughout his life, he always remained a keen and active OMT and maintained life-long contacts with many school contemporaries.
After leaving school, Nigel gained extensive experience as a surveyor and town planner with the GLC and several London Boroughs. At the same time, he acquired his professional qualifications as a Chartered Surveyor and Chartered Town Planner while studying at evening classes. Armed with FRICS skills, he subsequently joined Roger Cunliffe Associates, who specialised in Architectural and Town Planning projects, where he obtained additional experience in planning, managing and overseeing contracts both in the United Kingdom and abroad. The story is told that due to his far- sighted involvement with a massive hospital project in Riyadh, he fortunately managed to persuade the designers to abandon their plans for an all-glass structure on the basis that if the air-conditioning failed, the patients would die of heat exhaustion before they could be conveyed out of the building! When advising on another ambitious scheme abroad, it is recorded that his calculations convinced the Architects that there was, at the time, insufficient cement production available in the world to complete the project.
Subsequently he became self employed. One area of his professional expertise was assisting clients to negotiate the tricky legalities of long-lease extensions. Typically, due to his meticulous attention to detail and his regard for the effect decisions would have in the longer term, he became one of the leading experts advising on long-lease extensions in the London area. He also personally designed the specialist computer software involved. He loved his work and never retired.
In 1967, Nigel married Jennifer in America, with Chris Brough (1956- 1960) as his best man. He had met Jennifer, primarily through their mutual interest in Vintage MG cars and music. She has skills as a writer, editor, counsellor, photographer and teacher and an authentic mellifluous American voice. Nigel recruited her as the vocalist with his group “Carter’s Crowd” with David Young and myself. As a group, and separately, we performed for a few years in various folk and jazz clubs, pubs, village halls, dives and local venues - including Durrants! - until we all went our separate ways. It was a most enjoyable youthful experience. The continuing existence of Cannock Mill Co-Housing is a lasting example of Nigel’s skill and persistence with many professional projects. He could accurately be described as a modest pioneer, in a quiet but determined way, in many spheres including Ecological Priorities.
He had numerous life-long active eclectic interests in addition to his professional practice earning him the contradictory, but accurate, description of ‘Hippie Conservative’. These included, in no particular order, Communal Living, Vintage Cars, Music, Poetry, Travel, Diesel Trains, Culinary Skills, Community Farming and Ecological Projects. He was also the Co-Founder of The Hastings Diesel Train Society and an active Spiritual Counsellor. Sometimes unassuming, always good company, dapper and polite, he was a kind and supportive long-term friend to many. He also had a finely tuned wit and sense of humour and will be greatly missed by all those who were fortunate enough to know him.
His Honour David Parry (1954-1959)
Nigel’s poem was composed when taking part in a French spiritual retreat.
Autumn
This Autumn misty morning
When there is no sound, but for the drip of dew from the Holm Oaks
All is quiet as the Sun works its magic on this Gallic hideaway
To dissolve the mist and review the countryside, so beautiful.
Meanwhile, Healers meet in the cottage down the lane,
Each night to sleep long in this peaceful land and then
To spin tales of mystery and wonderment
To sit and listen to each other and to talk at ease
And to enjoy each others’ company.
As evening draws near and after walk and explorations, to prepare feasts:
Each night to employ the bounty of this land
To create exquisite dishes from the freshest of vegetables,
And the fat of the land
And especially to sample the many fruits of the vine.
Then there is laughter, enjoyment, much silliness and fun
Long into the evening
And late, finally to bed
To await tomorrow’s misty morning.
Nigel Carter