Obituaries

Clive was a popular person with a tremendous sense of humour. He has left many happy
memories with the numerous friends he made in all his different pursuits.
To Lyn, the children, his parents, Charlie and Rosemary, we offer condolence for their tragic
loss.
1968
Keith JM Sichel (died 2001)
Lt. NICHOLAS TAYLOR, 1950-1982. (written by Dr J Wigley 2012)
This year is the thirtieth anniversary of the tragic death of Nicholas Taylor, OH, killed in
action on 4 th May 1982 whilst flying a Sea Harrier from HMS Hermes in an attack on the
Goose Green airstrip in the Falklands Islands.
Whist at Haberdashers’ Nick played fives, swam in the school team, and was a member of
the 2 nd XV. After leaving school, he played for the Old Haberdashers’ Rugby Football Club
from 1967 to March 1976, and turned out for a Services soccer team until he was concussed
during the following season.
He spent eighteen months training at RAF Cranwell, then switched to the Fleet Air Arm. His
flying duties took him toNorthern Ireland, where he flew helicopters at 200 feet overBelfast,
then to a course on Sea Harriers, before he was posted to the Royal Naval Task Force that
was sent to theFalklands. A contemporary wrote
“Nick was a natural athlete and a tough competitor at a wide range of sports. He displayed a
rare talent at almost everything he cared to turn his hand to, the sports already mentioned
and in addition sailing, skiing, gliding and, of course, his greatest love, flying. As a pilot he
achieved the highest accolade of being selected as a Test Pilot at
theEmpireTestFlyingSchool, a position he sadly never filled.”
“Nick was a man’s man and the kindest person you could ever wish to meet. He has left so
many happy memories he will not be forgotten by the numerous friends he made in so many
facets of his life. Those of us who had the privilege of knowing Nick at school will be grateful
for having met such a fine young man who, as the press described, died a national hero. No
parents could be more proud of their son and no wife more proud of a husband.”
Until the end of the 1970’s Nick had flown Sea Kings, then he crossed into the fast-jet
training cohort. In the Spring of 1982 he had just completed the Sea Harrier conversion
course and joined 800 Squadron, with which he went to theFalklands. On Tuesday 4 May
1982 theU.K.forces mounted a three-ship attack on the Goose Green airstrip during which