Nigel's career in ATC was an integral part of his life, and the experience and skills he brought benefitted countless people over the many years that he was with NATS. Many of today's controllers carry with them the techniques he taught them when they were training.

Nigel was one of those unforgettable characters on the Watch who had an impact upon everyone with whom he worked. There can’t be many of us who have not been grateful for the magic he was able to work with the Annual Leave planning which allowed many of us to book events or trips which seemed improbable at first sight but which he finessed using his wide experience and the flexibility of the validations for the benefit of everyone. As an ATC Supervisor, there were many occasions when a TLPD mountain approached and, in addition to traditional traffic management measures, a glance at the sector to see Nigel sitting there meant that we could be sure it was unlikely to split!! When he occasionally asked to arrive a little later than the usual start time of his Night shift because he was taking the curtain call after directing or conducting another musical event, we were pleased to help if we could!

Outside work, Nigel was a keen pilot, and often regaled us with stories of his adventures, which were not always without drama. Amongst these was an urgent landing at a military airfield in France following engine problems over the Channel (with Jon James as co-pilot). Having been told that landing was not possible unless in emergency, Nigel’s “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday” elicited a swift landing clearance!! My own personal experience of the Finchy aviation ‘fun’ was collecting a newly-purchased (but not recently-flown) aircraft from Shoreham which had to be exported to Guernsey that day for VAT reasons. Unfortunately, total radio failure near Goodwood ended with an unscheduled landing at Southampton using a hand-held iCOM! JJ was on board then, too.. is there a link..?  Life was always interesting with Finchy.