Remembering Nigel Griffiths by Carina Rees https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7 A place to share memories, photos and funny stories of Nige en-us 2021-06-06 11:51:40 UTC 2025-12-23 12:23:00 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/2764.png carinarees401 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1588383673 Nige was a part of my life for the past 15 years. When we first met I was 8 years old, and he was just the funny bald man who fancied my mother. Years later, when he was part of the furniture,  he first told me off, aged 15, something I definitely needed (and definitely didn’t want to happen again). At university, he would send pictures of Mum's roast dinners just to make me jealous.

Through-out those 15 years, he helped shaped me into a strong individual, always teaching me not to take any crap, and stand on my own 2 feet. The phrase “Grow up girly” would frequent our debates, much to my annoyance, but his constant challenging of my ideas and opinions made me think more deeply about what I thought and why. Whilst I would get frustrated, I can see that he was always pushing me to do and be better. 

The name “Step-Dad” was never applied to Nige as a label was never needed, but the word doesn’t do the relationship justice. He was my honorary Dad, an added bonus, and I will miss him dearly. 

]]> 2021-06-06 22:14:12 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1588383673 "How you doing Nige?" "Oh, the usual, fair to crap" trystanrees https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1588416335
Memories... where to start?

I remember a man coming into my life. Telling me what to do in "my" house (laughable) - which I definitely needed! I remember adolescent arguments and stern teenage words. I remember a man who was just doing his best to help guide me. And help make me the man I am today. 

I remember a kind soul with a gentle approach. And a hairy wolfy named Sherl (Doggwr Llanberis) in tow. I remember my first bike ride in the mountains of Afan. I remember Christmas' past and how he spoilt mum rotten. Knowing full well that a roast dinner for him and his pal Sherl would be the greatest gift he'd receive. I remember laughter and the final mango chutney sausage being fought over like it was the last in existence - but we'd always concede to Nige's boyish eyes.

We enjoyed sunday dinners. We enjoyed pictures of Sunday dinners courtesy of Nige, just to remind us that even in university, he was thinking of us (and could still poke fun no matter how far away we were!). We enjoyed chats and debates. Music like mates. Post pint wobbles (after 2 at the local). Post vodka wobbles (after a session at FiFi's vodka bar). Music. Debate. Dancing... not great! But 

I'll be forever grateful that he showed me his work. Let me into his office. And took me under his wing. I'll be forever thankful that we spent just good quality time together. Time chatting. Time discussing. Time together.

I miss him dearly. I will miss him moving forwards. But I'll remember what he taught me. What I've learned. 

Step-Dad doesnt do it justice. It never will. But I'm so glad to have had him for the time we did. The memories I'll cherish forever. 

I loved him. I miss him. And I'll live my life as he'd have wanted - "Fair to crap"]]> 2021-06-06 23:05:10 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1588416335 Just a little nap fionarees6 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1589315009 Man and puppy doing something they loved!
I think 8 week old Hudson was the more comfortable, but there was no way Nige was going to move ❤️]]> 2021-06-07 07:33:48 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1589315009 Big Family Sunday Night Fi's Dinner! alisongriffiths21 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1589379462 My family and I, William and three sons Evan, Charlie, and Soren would visit Nige every summer and enjoy the most delicious Sunday dinners cooked by Fi. It was wonderful to see the cousins all hanging out and Nige was in his element.  Of course, look whose taken pride of place right next to him.....Mr Sherlock Holmes himself, enjoying the company of his bestie Hudson right next to Fi.  It was always the perfect end to a perfect holiday ❤️]]> 2021-06-07 08:10:40 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1589379462 carinarees401 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1590670835 We used to play the spotify game on a Saturday night - we take it in turns to play a song to listen to whilst chatting and drinking. Your average song is 3-4 minutes, but of course Nige chose this 12 minute song for his turn. Felt like a fitting song to play today. ]]> 2021-06-07 17:36:54 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1590670835 orf4 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1590677628 Although I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing Nigel for a long time, in the years that I knew him he left a lasting impact. As Carina’s boyfriend Nigel was a man that I had to impress. I will always remember our first meeting. I was perched on the arm of a sofa as he strode into the room. He offered me his hand to shake and as I took it he gripped it firmly and dragged me to my feet.

The next time we met I almost set fire to the house while cooking, something Nigel would never let me live down. Hopefully I managed to improve his impression of me down the line.

 I will remember him as a strong figure, with a kind nature and a sharp wit to match. 


]]> 2021-06-07 17:39:19 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1590677628 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591083916 2021-06-07 20:47:20 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591083916 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591085167 2021-06-07 20:47:57 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591085167 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591086159 2021-06-07 20:48:34 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591086159 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591086928 2021-06-07 20:48:59 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591086928 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591087883 2021-06-07 20:49:35 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591087883 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591088745 2021-06-07 20:50:08 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591088745 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591089472 2021-06-07 20:50:39 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591089472 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591090512 2021-06-07 20:51:18 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591090512 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591091133 2021-06-07 20:51:43 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591091133 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591091735 2021-06-07 20:52:10 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591091735 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591092518 2021-06-07 20:52:39 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591092518 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591093195 2021-06-07 20:53:07 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591093195 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591093942 2021-06-07 20:53:35 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591093942 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591095091 2021-06-07 20:54:12 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591095091 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591095923 2021-06-07 20:54:47 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591095923 Charlie and William and Nige at Clyne Country Park wboddy1 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591111758 Great day out with Nige and Sherl]]> 2021-06-07 21:05:31 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591111758 A great ‘man with no name’ fiona335 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591124792 He didn’t fancy going as Shrek! ]]> 2021-06-07 21:14:20 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591124792 KATHERINE from the office https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591129317

What a gentleman, always made time for a chat every time he was in the office,asking how our lives are...very kind and caring person...really enjoyed his handmade birthday cards (only because he never knew when our birthdays were🤣)I believe also he was the only person in the world that enjoyed my tea and coffee...he loved his Greggs, pasty for Nigel, sausage roll for Sherlock...I’m still in complete shock!! He will be missed❤️

]]> 2021-06-07 21:17:47 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591129317 fiona335 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591167295 A lovely present from the kids tonight. ]]> 2021-06-07 21:46:39 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591167295 A fellow 🦏 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591168092 I have uploaded some photos of Nigel enjoying his great passions of mountain biking and greenlaning. 
I first met Nigel about twenty years ago through a mutual friend who had a passion for mountain biking. 
Our friendship developed very quickly and we were soon meeting up on Saturdays at the mountain biking heaven that is Afan Argoed. A small group comprising Big Nige, Dai Gyflym, Hugh Lighthouse, Rowland and myself was formed. The Rhinos were born and  we met every Saturday come rain or shine, summer and winter to enjoy each other’s company and a few hours of thrills and spills on two wheels when we put the real world to one side and acted like kids followed by a gourmet lunch at the Cwmavon burger van or the Lodge cafe at Britton Ferry when the days ride was dissected in great detail. 
Nigel struck me as a kind and thoughtful person with an eye for detail. He had a great passion for cars and mountain bikes. I swear he read every edition of every mountain biking magazine from cover to cover such was his knowledge. We quickly learnt of his forensic research of  cars of a particular make and model. He always kept us on our toes as we never knew which car he would turn up in. 
When attacking the uphill sections we would re group at various points to catch our breath and rest the legs. We often put the world to rights during these stops. We were frequently educated by Nigel of the contents of that weeks Economist. The other members of the group had learnt not to mention the word  “Brexit” as this would invariably result in Nigel  going into orbit and predicting  in great detail  the end of the world as we knew it. These deep discussions were always light hearted and we never fell out or had a cross word. 
Although Nigel was not the quickest  thing on a bike going uphill, going downhill he was something else. He only knew one gear and that was flat out. You wouldn’t want to be in front of him on a downhill section.  It was like being chased by a wilder beast on heat. He would always take pole position at the start of a descent and with a shout of “yeeha” he was gone. We would frequently find him half way down the descent in a crumpled groaning heap but smiling from ear to ear. 
These were great days that will remain long in the memory. 
We also met up a on a few occasions at Bike Parc Wales for a days uplift and downhill heaven. 
I also introduced Nigel to his other passion that is greenlaning. This of course resulted in a further string of new vehicles comprising various defenders, discoveries and a Pajero. Nigel will be greatly missed by his greenlaning pals many of whom have expressed their condolences to me. 
Nigel was a good friend  and a top bloke. He left us far too early. 
John Lloyd. ]]> 2021-06-07 21:47:15 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1591168092 Gillian says... https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1592433941 What can you say, just goes to show, Sherlock would do anything for Nigel 🙈. Will miss all the silliness he would bring into the office, a good and kind man who not only was a great person to work for, was a great person to know. He will be missed]]> 2021-06-08 09:38:43 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1592433941 DD https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1593665901 The most loyal friend a man could ever ask for and I am privileged to have had that friendship for so very long.]]> 2021-06-08 18:01:37 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1593665901 Sartorial eloquence 4fr8dt8996 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1593925825 Nigel was a very special person. Always so kind and generous and took time to listen (even when we were talking rubbish!). But best of all he had great taste in women, he loved our friend Fiona to bits, making her very happy. 
But despite what you might think reading all these action packed posts of his exploits in Lycra, Nigel also had great style. I love this photo of him (and my two sisters) at our 50th Birthday bash. Nigel was the best dressed man in the room with his bow tie and pink jacket. 
He leaves a fantastic legacy, but a big hole in so many of our lives. With much love. Alison ❤️]]> 2021-06-08 19:56:52 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1593925825 Happy days ....... 4fr8dt8996 https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1593953913 With the gang down the Gower.....]]> 2021-06-08 20:12:55 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1593953913 Nige. https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1595168696 2021-06-09 07:48:36 UTC https://padlet.com/carinarees401/ijmfu0btkvp6ymg7/wish/1595168696