Peter Nickson

Date: 04 June 2021

1948 – 2021

It is with sincere regret that we announce the passing of Peter Nickson, a Hoppers player, 1st team captain and lifelong Hoppers supporter.

Peter started his playing career at Ashton High School under the supervision of another Hoppers captain Geoff Banks, he then continued playing, maturing into a very talented scrum half, this being rewarded by being appointed as 1st team captain for the 1976/1977 season.

He had a varied working life, mostly centred around the sea, starting work at the port of Preston keeping the channels clear before moving to the merchant navy where he sailed around the world visiting too many countries to mention. In 1973/4 whilst visiting New Zealand he decided that he would like to stay and “jumped ship”.

He met and married Michelle, a Kiwi, and settled in Wellington for a year before returning to Preston in 1975, there having a son Christopher and renewing his Hoppers connections. In 1978 the family moved to Abu Dhabi where Anya their daughter was born, again moving back to NZ in 1981 to live and work out of Auckland. He continued to work in the United Arab Emirates as a Senior Dredge Master and was ultimately promoted to Dredging Superintendent at the National Marine Dredging Company.

In 2006 he returned to Preston, followed by a short time in the Canaries before moving into the Lady Elsie Finney care home in 2014.

He is survived by his daughter Anya in Manchester, his son Chris and grandchildren Oscar and Annabel in Melbourne, Australia.

Please take a moment to remember him on Friday 4th June at 9am.

A life well lived.

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