Nicholas Hugh Lindo (L, 1954)

The following tribute has been provided by Nick’s family.

Nick died peacefully at his Christchurch home in New Zealand. By his side was a piping hot cup of tea and the day’s crossword.

Nick attended both the Junior and College from 1945-54. There is no doubt that he thoroughly enjoyed his time at Cheltenham in and out of the classroom making friends for life, particularly in the form of Charles Dickins (L, 1953) who remained a close friend until Charles’s death. Nick was a gifted sportsman and developed a lifelong love of sport, especially cricket while at College having spent three years in the 1st XI.

After leaving College, he went on to complete his two years National Service (which by then was voluntary) and was commissioned into the Queen’s Royal Regiment serving with the First Battalion on active service in Malaya (as was). Rumours of his cricketing ability must have spread and he enjoyed brief respite from patrolling the swamps searching for members of the Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA) to play cricket for the British Army 1st XI in Kuala Lumpa.

After his short service commission and having seen some of the world, Nick was keen to see more of it. This early love of travelling not only led him to spend two years working for British Mexican Petroleum Company, but also saw him embark on a working tour of the US and Canada. When working for the Canadian National Railway, due to a rogue act of drilling he managed to cause a power outage that plunged most of Montreal into total darkness. During these years Nick weighed up a number of varied (some might say diametrically opposed) career options that included the possibility of going to theological college to become ordained as well as briefly considering working for the ‘family firm’ Justerini and Brooks – of J&B whisky fame.

It was his calling to education however that was to define his professional life. After taking up a temporary teaching post back at the Junior organised by his uncle (Jim Gomme) who was a teacher there at the time, he went to Durham University to study Social Sciences at St John’s College and then on to complete his Diploma in Education at Hertford College, Oxford. While at Durham and Oxford he captained the university cricket teams.

Nick’s first teaching job was at Wellington School, Somerset teaching English and throwing himself into every aspect of school mastering life, alongside his teaching duties he coached 1st team ‘rugger’ and cricket, ran the debating society, led the CCF and even found time to play the trumpet in the school orchestra!

After a very successful three years at Wellington once again Nick was tempted by an overseas posting taking his wife Anne and young son Hugh to begin what was a long and fulfilling career at Christ’s College, Christchurch, New Zealand. Nick was a hugely conscientious English teacher and Housemaster, and his reports were always meticulous and exhaustive. His colleague R. C. Bromley wrote on his retirement in the Christ’s College Register: 'He will be remembered by his colleagues for his dedication to the boys in his house and in his classes, for his self-denigrating wit, his Christian conviction and his warm company.’ Indeed, of his many qualities it will be his terrific sense of humour that he will perhaps be best remembered for.

After retirement Nick enjoyed a highly successful career as a political writer and columnist writing for a number of newspapers throughout New Zealand. He managed to combine healthy cynicism with a wonderful comic turn of phrase that made him a favourite with his regular readers. His short and pithy letters to the editor continued to be published in The Press (the main newspaper in the South Island) right up until the week before he died.

Along with his writing, he devoted much of his retirement to service, a quality that had been noted all those years before at College. He served on the Board of Barnardo’s New Zealand for many years.

On Nick’s final College report card in 1954, it was noted that he was a, ‘fine and sterling person. I am sure he will be useful and reliable and so be a happy man.’ These were prophetic comments that were born out over the following 70 years. Throughout his life he championed the underdog, remained ever modest despite his many talents, and earned the respect of colleagues, students and friends. In all his endeavours Nick was indeed ‘useful and reliable’ and was ultimately a happy man.

Nick leaves behind a legacy of kindness, humour, dedication, and a profound impact on the lives of his students and colleagues. He will be deeply missed by his family – his children Hugh, Rebecca and Murray, his grandchildren, his second wife Jean – his friends, and the many students who had the privilege of learning from him.