Nigel Willis

It is with great regret and sadness we have to announce that our well loved Vice Chairman, and former Chair, Nigel Willis, passed away last week from Covid.

I know this will come as a great shock to many of you who knew Nigel personally or had been on his tours or had attended his power point presentation. You will remember him well as a gentle, humorous man, with a real strength of character and integrity.

Nigel was the foremost founder of the Friends established in 2005 and his earliest memories of the Glasgow Necropolis are from visiting the family memorials there as a child.

He put in an astonishing amount of work and enthusiasm into the Friends of Glasgow Necropolis, from the establishment of the Charity and he worked tirelessly up until the past few weeks. He loved the outdoors and no matter the weather over the last 15 years has taken thousands of people on tours – he especially loved doing school tours. He also travelled long distances to give Powerpoint presentations all year round to many organisations.

He brought his charisma and enthusiasm to every meeting he attended and many of us still on the committee were there from the very first year. Many Charities do not last half as long but he brought to our Charity the knowledge that the work of the Friends of Glasgow Necropolis outweighs any individual personalities or opinions.

His appearance on the TV programme ‘Flog it’ will keep re-appearing and remind us of this very special man, the loss of whom will be felt for a very long time to come.

We were honoured to have known him and to have shared his passion and vision for the Glasgow Necropolis.

Ruth Johnston, Chairperson and the Trustees of the Friends of Glasgow Necropolis

22nd September 2021