A popular man loses final fight (From Worcester News)

A popular man loses final fight

5:10pm Friday 27th January 2012 in Local

A STOURPORT-on-Severn man, who was a key figure in Wyre Forest life for more than 40 years, has died aged 67.

Mike Nicol jointly set up Stourport-on-Severn’s Abigail fashion store in 1980 with his late wife Becky.

The store was originally in Lombard Street before it moved to High Street, The couple married in the town in 1969 after Mr Nicol moved from his native Cardiff, where he was born in 1944.

Mrs Nicol died in 2004.

When Mr Nicol left school he started work in a Cardiff department store before leaving Wales and becoming an agent for women’s fashion labels, travelling the country. Friends joked that he travelled in ladies underwear while he worked for companies such as Mary Quant.

His love of all sports started with cycling and football.

He was a founding and life member of the Wyre Forest Cycling Club, organising many events in the local area, including the Jean Baker Memorial Trophy around Astley and the Kidderminster Town Races.

Mr Nicol was particularly pleased when a new cycle track was opened near Stourport-on-Severn High School in 2010 securing new opportunities for young people and the wider community to use a grade one facility.

His passion for cycling drove him throughout his life.

The mindset needed to battle through 12-hour races or to get up and ride a time trial before work gave him the fortitude to not just survive, but live with renal cancer and subsequent complications, according to his family.

Seven-and-a-half years ago, Mr Nicol had a heart attack, a stroke and was then diagnosed with cancer. But his daughter, Abi, said her father never moaned or felt sorry for himself, even when he broke his hip last summer.

Following the death of his wife and closure of Abigail, Mr Nicol became a fund-raiser for the Kemp Hospice, Kidderminster.

Over the years, he held posts with the United Commercial Travellers Association, was president of Stourport-on-Severn Rotary from 1985-86, was involved in the Poppy Appeal and, most recently, with Astley and Dunley Village Hall.

As treasurer, he was an advocate of the proposed solar panels for the hall and hoped they would go ahead.

Mr Nicol, who died on Monday, January 16, at home surrounded by his family, leaves two children, Abi and Nathan, and two grandchildren, Noah, seven, and Megan, four. His funeral service was held at the Wyre Forest Crematorium.