Nick Skinner

Southend Echo Tuesday October 27th 2020

Memorial

Sunday 9th May 2021. The unveiling of a bench in Nick Skinner’s memory

Cllr Beth Hooper I was privileged and honoured to be invited. Thank you to everyone that donated. Nick Skinner’s Bench Commemoration: The Nick Skinner Bench, The Bowling Green, Priory Park, Southend-on-Sea, Essex. A short commemoration took place on Sunday 9th May at Priory Park to remember Nick Skinner with his family and supporters of his great venture the Southend Timeline. Nick Skinner is hugely missed by his family and by the Southend community. As the historian who took over Southend Timeline and added hugely to this online resource, anyone who wants to know more about Southend’s history owes a debt to Nick Skinner for his tireless work. The memorial bench and a generous donation to local charities was raised by a Just Giving campaign in memory of Nick Skinner and his work. Order of Commemoration: Due to lockdown regulations, a small group unveiled the Nick Skinner memorial bench at the Bowling Green in Priory Park. A few words were spoken by Nick’s family – his mother, Christine and his brother Mark. Christine said “We were so very grateful for the generous donations to Nick’s bench and it is in a lovely spot for us to be able to come and visit.” Rosalind Harman of Ros Southend Past in Photos, face book group read these words. “From the people of Southend-on-Sea, with grateful thanks for your tireless work in documenting the History of Our Town. Your dedication in recording everything Southend from the early days through to recent years. Your Southend Timeline Web Site is and always will be ‘the go to’ place to learn about our Town. Your fascination in collecting memorabilia and artefacts related to our town in your own personal collection, was unmatched. Your tireless work will carry on, with the dedication of others who wish to keep alive all that you have achieved over the years. The Southend Timeline will live on as a wonderful memorial to you. You will be remembered as a loving son, brother and carer. As a supporter of the RNLI, Southend Museums, Southend Pier Museum, and local Charities including Cats Protection, Vulcan Trust “you will be greatly missed.” Cllr Beth Hooper, who had worked with Nick on Southend history projects said “The work that Nick did for so many years in building on the Southend Timeline means that for generations to come, our community will be able to learn about and from the past. It is so important that we remember his great service to our borough with this bench.” The bench was unveiled by Nick Skinner’s family. Useful Information: Photographs have been taken by Charlie Evans for use with this story. Copyright is claimed by Blade Education but these images can be used by any media outlet or friend of Nick Skinner’s to commemorate his life at no charge to media outlets and his family. If anyone wants them to be forwarded to them, please just email charlie@blade-education.org.uk Any further details please contact Beth Hooper cllrhooper@southend.gov.uk