Nick Conrad

Nick was an ebullient character with a zest and optimism and real interest in other people which I always admired. Pete Hancock Nick had genuine erudition and a capacity for reflection. He also had a real capacity for networking and a lot of research, and was very thorough and methodical in his research. Cherry Hughes I found Nick easy to talk to and a good listener. He would always reflect on what I said and manage to give a detailed response, in an amazing short space of time. He put his heart and soul into the BSA, and was very selfless and supportive of others. Rachel Everard Nick always had time to speak to me. The depth of his knowledge was very impressive. John Perkins Nick had an ability to make people feel welcome. At my first BSA conference he came right up and introduced himself to me. Colin Marsh I remember Nick most of all from my interview. He was the portly gentle man with the laughing smile whose cheeks would waggle about when he nodded in agreement with what you were saying. He was the one who seemed to take an age over asking me if I knew or had met anyone who stammered. I thought to myself, no, but I've made up for it today. He always seemed positive to me, looking on the bright side of things, knowing that if a change was needed it would come and it would be for the better. I was looking forward to seeing Nick again, I had certainly hoped to talk to him before I left BSA. However much we plan, however much we think we have a hand in life, we always learn that nothing is certain. I think change is a most wonderful force, but it makes me sad to think that it carries off so many fine people. So good luck Nick, you'll be a memory of mine. Melvin Hunter

Obituary

Nick Conrad, BSA Trustee since 1994 and Vice-Chair since 2000, died after a long illness on March 23rd, 2002, at the age of 54. Nick had been in hospital since September last year, undergoing three operations. Two days before his death of heart failure I visited him and he was, as always, optimistic of being allowed home soon. He never gave up. Even after the last operation he was asking about BSA.

Many of our members will have met Nick in person, at open days, national conferences or on one of the Speaking Circles workshops he usually gave at BSA events. But even if you have never met him, we all owe a great debt to his work and his input into the BSA. He was instrumental in the development of our charity. His commitment, enthusiasm and empathy drove him, amongst many other things, to get a project off the ground which will look into what services we can offer to stammering offenders. In my role as Chief Executive of the BSA, Nick was in effect my employer, and I never found him anything but supportive and encouraging, always stressing the positive and the achievements.

Nick would hate us to be glum. He loved life, and he was incredibly busy and full of plans, but he never took himself serious enough to want others to feel sad on his account. Even in the final months of his life, what shone through in the difficult days in hospital was his indomitable spirit, his optimistic and positive outlook on life.

This outlook he transferred to all his activities, accentuating the positive, seeing opportunities rather than problems, and if there was a problem, there was always a solution which could be found to make things better. All it would take was a lot of dedication, enthusiasm, drive and a positive outlook. Nick had all of these in abundance. He was self-effacing yet immensely and genuinely interested in others. A rare but very happy and successful combination.

What can I say about his stammer other than that Nick had found an apparently effortless way of dealing with it. If the stammer hit, it could be spectacular. But it never stopped him from saying what he wanted to say and everyone who knew him had no doubt that it was worth waiting to hear what he said for Nick never said much without thinking a lot about it beforehand.

He never had a family of his own, but he had many, many close and loyal friends. He never had children of his own, but due to his work with the BSA and the Fluency Trust, there are a great number of children out there who will grow up unencumbered by stammering and, though they'll never know his name, they will owe it in some measure to his life's work.

Though he had been ill for some time, I think all of us were shocked by the suddenness of his death. But it is not what happens to us in the brief moments of our dying that is important but the legacy we leave behind.

Nick's legacy is that of close friendships, of shared laughter and happy memories, of a great reservoir of encouragement and support, and of a great impact with his charitable work. We will miss him dearly. But he will be remembered, sadly at first, but certainly with great fondness and many smiles - as well as the occasional pint!

Norbert Lieckfeldt

From the Summer 2002 edition of Speaking Out

See also: A tribute to Nick Conrad