Sad Passing of Nicky Fewer, Freeman of Waterford.

A ship sails
and I stand watching till she fades on the horizon
and someone at my side says: She is gone!
Gone where? Gone from my sight, that is all;
she is just as large as when I saw her.
The diminished size,
and total loss of sight is in me, not in her,
and just at the moment when someone at my side says
She is gone!
there are others who are watching her coming,
and other voices take up the glad shout,
There she comes!
…..and that is dying!

News has travelled quickly of the very sad passing of a great man and the most recent Freeman of our ancient city, Nicky Fewer. As well as being a wonderful person, family man and business man Nicky was possessed of a vision for Waterford and the drive to implement it.

He gave of himself generously for the betterment of the City, Chairing the Regional Airport Board, Christ Church Catherderal Development and indeed the Tallships Festival which graced our river in 2005, amongst other things.

He was tireless, right up to the end working to form a non-profit company to try and rescue as many Waterford Crystal jobs as possible.

His was a big heart and a big intellect and he will be sorely missed by many people all over the world. I have had calls from Dublin and Gibraltar where the news has already reached.

Nicky, you fought always for what you believed in and put your own shoulder to the wheel, going above and beyond the call of duty, even in illness, to ensure that you contributed to what has become your beloved city.

My sympathy goes out to all Nickys' family, especially his wife Maria and son Ian and all his friends and colleagues.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Above is a particularly relevant poem, given Nickys' great love of all things sailing and the sea.