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Farewell to man who touched so many hearts
May 30, 2011
IN January, Neville Nixon told his bride, Judy, how beautiful she was in her purple wedding dress.
The couple’s marriage at The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough touched the hearts of people across Teesdale.
Mr Nixon described the day as “one of the best of his life”.
Last Thursday, Judy again wore that dress. But this time it was to honour her husband at his funeral after he had lost his brave fight with cancer on May 11.
About 170 people packed into St Romald’s, in Romaldkirk, to say farewell to Mr Nixon, a hard-working farmer with a “love of life” that won him friends throughout the dale.
Mr Nixon, 57, of Village Farm, Hunderthwaite, died at the Manor House care home, in Barnard Castle.
At the funeral service, friend Norman Pooley paid tribute, describing Mr Nixon as a “very special person” and a “remarkable man” whose life was cut short.
Mr Nixon moved to Hunderthwaite when he was seven and grew up helping out on the family farm. He developed a passion for mechanical things and undertook an engineering apprenticeship in Newton Aycliffe, before going to work on a gas plant in Iran.
Revolution in Iran meant a return to farming in Teesdale, although Mr Nixon still found time for his love of engineering and even built a miniature steam locomotive.
Mr Pooley said: “He lived life and he lived it to the full. He was the best neighbour we could have and he was always there to help. He kept me right in so many ways.”
The funeral also heard how Mr Nixon was immensely proud of his three children – Christopher, Rachel and Kristina.
Mr Nixon, who was a keen motor sport fan, liked to write funny poems for his family and had a great appreciation of the countryside and its wildlife. He enjoyed good company, good food – and good beer.
Mr Pooley said: “Neville was also a skilled stocksman and farmer. His land was always in first-class order and was admired by everyone – everything had to be right. ‘If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right’ was his motto.”
Tribute was paid to Judy, who kept up the farm while holding down her job – as well as providing love and care at her husband’s bedside when he was in hospital and then at the Manor House.
The couple’s first date was a trip to Tan Hill 18 years ago, when Mr Nixon had said if the conversation dried up, they could admire the view. But when they arrived, thick fog rolled in. However, the chatter between the pair never stopped and romance blossomed.
They had agreed to get married not long after getting together, but time slipped by and it wasn’t until Mr Nixon’s admission into hospital this year that the couple decided to name a date.
“It was the best thing they could have done,” Mr Pooley told those at the funeral service.
Mr Nixon had set his heart on a honeymoon in Tenerife, which Judy said was his favourite place. It was not to be.
Mr Nixon leaves wife Judy, children Christopher, Rachel and Kristina, mother Lucy, father-in-law Joe, mother-in-law Betty, sister-in-law Pamela, brother-in-laws Peter and Pepe and sister Pearl Denise. He was uncle to Steven, Andrew, Sophie, Eriko, Nokkaew, Amy and Joanne and best friend to Rocker, Kath, Kev and Babs.
The bearers at the funeral were: Richard Iceton, Kevin Hogarth, Peter Fisher, Edward Gooding, Frank Coulthard and Nokkaew Harrington. Among the mourners at the funeral were: Rachael Hunter rep John & Graeme Hunter; Brian Utley; Suzanne Falconer; Brian & Bev Iceton; Cassie Flint; Kevin Flint; Ruth Teward rep family; Stuart Dixon; Robbie & Louise Dalton; Kathleen Martin rep Mr Gordon Martin; Barbara Marshall rep Frank Marshall & family; John Knights; Austin Spooner; Jason Gooding; Dennis Young; Christine Lee; Brian Brough; Mark & Kathryn Wallace; Mr B Law; Stuart Bell; Maureen Lind; Keith Lind; Catherine Lind; James Fletcher rep Trevor & Susan Tarn; Timothy Simpson; Colin Geldard; Kathleen Allinson; Charlotte Groves; Antony Groves; Hazel Gray; Ralph Bosworth; Andrew & Melanie Watson; Lisa Scott; Robert Gill rep Jean & David Gill; David Hutchinson rep Mickleton Service Sation; Richard Wall; Carol Ball; Joanne Fisher; Lucy Nixon; Gary Jefferson; Alison Morrell; David Gill rep Angela Gill; Mrs Angela Thompson rep Andrew Ward; Rachael Allinson; David & Heather Allinson; Karl Borrowdale; Jemma Knight; Michael Raine; Neil Otterwell; Kath Towler rep Edward Towler; Stephen Swinbank; Mark Richardson; Elsie Richardson; Ross Cuthbert; Claire Robson; Maurice Scott rep Mrs Scott; Gordon Jefferson; Tony Gaskin; Daniel Read; Sophie Muskett; John Nettleton; Alan Lee-Shield; Paul Holliday; R Walton rep Mr & Mrs R Walton; Alan Stoddart; Tracy Collin rep Manor House; Helen Law; Miriam Hall; Leonard Blackburn; Malcolm Nixon; Elly Nixon; Julie Corry; Geoff Bland; Trevor James; Mark Hutchinson; John Walton; Jean Walton; Barbara Hunter rep Julie Hutchinson; Nichola Hunter; Gerald Blake; Allen Armstrong; Trevor High rep Mr & Mrs J E High; Doris Hughes; Kathleen Iceton rep Thomas & Matthew Iceton; Connie Flint; Ian & Wyn Gargate rep John Gibson; Norman & Barbara Pooley rep Nigel; Sue; Jill; & Ruth Simpson; Mary Shepherd; John Grave; Harry Surtees; James Linsley; Richard Bainbridge rep Alwyn; Wayne Dalton; Susan & Richard Parnaby; Irene Coulthard rep Mr Keith Dent; Mr & Mrs James Richardson; Keith Lamb rep family; Les & Angela Tookey; John & Jane Mairs; Mr & Mrs L Kidd rep Mr & Mrs B Robson; Clive & Shirley Sowerby; Mr & Mrs M B Fletcher; Robbie Ebdon; John Alderson; Maud Simpson; Nora Amess; Sarah Meeson rep Barry & Jackie Meeson also Alison & Richard Brown; Mr B Marley; D McFarlane; Mark & Angela Thompson; Vicky & Sam Ward; Joan Anderson; Susan Gill rep Count & Countess de’Cacqueray & Mrs J D Broughton; Colin & Hilda Cleasby; Trevor Addison; Peter Addison; Evelyn Walton; Joanne Atkinson rep Andrew Atkinson; Ronald Hogarth; Sarah Hogarth; Carol & Wilf Iceton; Denise & Richard Hird; Derek Parnaby; Kim Gaskin; Oliver Burrell; Mr & Mrs P J Wallington; Janet Ainsley rep Geoff Ainsley; John Burt; Richard & Julia Coulthard; John Mutum; Roland Harrison; Ray Mulley; Carl Stepehnson rep Brian Luck; John Stephenson; Jennifer Todd; Olga Bates rep Margaret & Richard Fawcett; Johnny Ostle; Peter & Teresa Raine; Enid & Russell Tallentire rep Alston Road Garage; Johnathan Metcalf; B Coulthard rep Mrs N Coulthard; Keith Marshall; Mr & Mrs Paul Donn; Tom Heys; Chris Teward rep family.