John 'Jack' Nicoll (26 May 1926 - 22 Feb 2020)

John Nicoll was born on 26 May 1926 at 43 Bailgate, Lincoln; the only child of Albert (Jock) and Ellen (nee Ablett) Nicoll. On his first visit to Scotland his paternal grandparents felt he should be called “young Jack” after his Scottish grandfather and “Jack” stuck to this day.
His early years were spent around the Bailgate area of Lincoln attending firstly Eastgate School, moving on to Westgate School and the City School on Monks Road. Jack left school at 14 and went to work as a window cleaner with his father who had started his own business in 1940.
Jack told tales of walking all over the county with his maternal grandfather who was a drover.
Jack was an active member of the Scout Movement and ATC. With the onset of World War II he joined the Civil Defence and acted as a messenger between Observer Corps posts and could be seen pedalling around Lincoln on his bike – he regularly used to cycle up Steep Hill, what a feat!
Jack joined the Navy in 1944 and became a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm gaining his wings as an “exceptional pilot” in Canada on VJ Day in 1945. He was eventually demobbed, turning down the opportunity of a commission to return to Lincoln to re-join his father’s business.
He married in 1947 and had a brood of children – Stephanie, Elaine, Christopher, Alastair and John, all of whom now have their own families and there is a growing number of grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren!
Flying was always a part of Jack’s life; he joined the RNVR in 1952 and was selected to take place in a flypast to mark the RNVR Jubilee Review before the Queen in 1954. Instructions were given to “ditch” in the Thames if necessary, however due to bad weather the flypast did not take place.
His love of flying continued as a glider pilot eventually becoming CFI of the Lincolnshire Gliding Club. He held a Private Pilots Licence and was regularly seen towing gliders around Lincolnshire.
He married Cathryn (Cathie) in 1972 and two more children, Jason and Sarah-Jane were born.
He latterly enjoyed cruising with Cathie (joining Sarah-Jane aboard cruise ships) and travelling to Switzerland (to visit Jason) but unfortunately failing health prevented further foreign travel.
Jack continued to gaze into the sky as his love of flying did not diminish in any form – over the years he flew fighters and gliders, he still relished the freedom of the air – and was a passenger in a Tiger Moth, Chipmunk, helicopter, hot air balloon and would have dearly loved to fly a hang glider or microlight but was banned from those activities……..! He climbed into an aircraft cockpit without a blink if invited to fly – his last flight being in August 2019 in an aircraft owned by one of his pupils.