March 23rd 2005

The day our music died. 

"I loved the boy with the utmost love of which my soul is capable and he is taken from me - yet in the agony of my spirit in surrendering such a treasure, I feel a thousand times richer than if I had never possessed it." Wordsworth

Nick, our dearest darling only son, how we wish you were here.
We know you are still playing sweet music in heaven 

Play it loud and proud son you will always be 'sweet child of mine'

Another turning point
A fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist
Directs you where to go
So make the best of this test
And don’t ask why
It’s not a question
But a lesson learned in time
It’s something unpredictable
But in the end is right
I hope you had the time of your life

This website was lovingly created to celebrate the life of our beloved son & brother, Nick Butcher . He was born on June 16, 1983

and stopped playing suddenly on March 23, 2005 at the age of 21.  He went to sleep and we never had a chance to say goodbye and take care.

(It might be grainy but it's our last photo of Nick,  taken with his  webcam)

These wounds won't seem to heal,
This pain is just too real,
There's just too much that time cannot erase,
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears,
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears,
and I held your hand through all of these years,

We loved him then, we love him now and we will love him forever. We will talk about him with love in our voices that way he will never be forgotten.

Nick, we miss you more then ever but we will grow stronger with your help. We were blessed to have you with us for a total of
21 yrs, 8 months and 7 days

A bit about Nick

At eighteen months old Nick suffered an infection which left him with damaged lungs. He fought and fought as his prognosis was not good and came through. He was left with a  legacy which left him breathless and prone to infections. Although he had severe problems he played his illness down, people saw him and not his illness. He went through  school and was the cheeky monkey of the class, maybe thats where he got his lifelong love of monkeys.

Nick started secondary school but found it tough going ,so he transfered to a school which catered more for his needs. At the school Nick shone, not only as a pupil but as a caring human being. His abillity to accept disability within himself gave him the abillity to accept it in others. In Nicks formative years he developed a great love of all music and art, he appreciated composers from , Motzart to Metallica . Artists from Holbien to Hockney. he followed both pursuits with the same passion and zest with which he lived his life. Nick had a seriously wicked sense of humour who always brought a smile to anyone who was down. He loved his music and was forever playing a new riff or song he had learned. He treasured his collection of guitars and only at special times would he let his dad anywhere near "his babies". He took requests from his mum and played all her favourites, whenever she asked.

Nick also loved his computer. Being on the 'net 'was a major passion for him. Talking on the net to his 'make believe friends' as we called them. But after Nick had gone we powered up his pc to find out that the 'make believe' friends were grieving too. we had lost sight that behind every computer, sits a human being.

Nick had a large group of friends, he could walk into a room with twenty strangers and walk out with twenty friends. most of them had carried him, especially after a good night out at the pub. And one last time, so gently, at his funeral as pall bearers.

The void that Nick has left in our hearts will never be filled but we hope that at some point we can smile again. We were pleased and honoured to have had him in our lives. He was too special to stay long. God only loaned him to us, he was never ours to keep.


The Nick Butcher Legacy Trust  Raising Money musically

***Latest News***




On Saturday 12th July, we held a 25th Birthday party in memory of our son Nick.



To lose a child is the worst thing for a parent, the second worse thing is to think they are forgotton........

We want to thank everybody who donated and attended, You all helped to remember and we all really rocked for Nick.



On the night we raised a total of £1,525

In addition to the £295 donated online gives us a grand total of £1,820

A cheque has been sent to Nordoff Robbins for this amount and they are replacing instruments in their London centre.


Thank you from the bottom of our hearts
Jackie, Gerry 'N' Katie Butcher xxxx

A memorial concert was held in aid of the
'Nick Butcher Legacy Trust' on August 26th 2006. It was a great success in total we raised

Over £3,000

THANK YOU ALL
The night was brilliant, the band was brilliant and the crowd were brilliant.
We all 'rocked' for Nick

We have sent Papworth Hospital Adolescent unit a cheque for £3,000 to spend on something Fun and Musical. The latest news is that they have purchased computer equipment and internet access.
Nick would definitely approve

Nick and his Games

This candle tribute was sent on Nicks 1st anniversary in 2006, by a gaming community he was part of. They have entered him into their 'Legend' section and every year on the 23rd March they give the most deserving member of their group the 'Nikonous' award which was set up in Nicks memory.
We thank them for remembering

 TG Nikonus Awards

Each year on the 23rd of March, The Gathering remembers one of it's members who left us all too soon. Nick Butcher AKA TG|Nikonus joined TG in 2004 and very quickly became one of TG's leading members, playing CSS for a time but mainly playing SWG and having a ball whilst doing so. Always making people laugh, always posting in the forums, Nick brought something a bit different to TG and we miss him for it.
Nick was the one person that if you felt down or depressed he would always be there to chear you up, he never had a bad word to say about anyone or anything and was always active in the forums posting something or other

The Nikonus Award history 

In memory of Nick, and to give people in TG something to work towards, we give one member the Nikonus Award each year as recognition of their character and everything positive that they've brought to our community. Nick was always a comedian and a friend, and this award is given in his name to the TG member who has made the best positive difference to this community in the year preceding the 23rd of March.

In 2005 the Nick Butcher Legacy Trust was set up to keep Nick's memory and to put some money towards things which Nick would have approved of. So far the fund has given money towards musical instruments and internet access for Papworth hospital and, more appropriately, sponsored a cheeky Monkey from Monkey World in Dorset! It turned out though that a certain online community would also be the next in line.

So it is with quite a strange mixture of gratitude, sadness, pride and joy that we announced last year that the Nikonus Award will come with a prize donated from the Nick Butcher Legacy Trust. The prize comes with no strings, and can be spent on whatever the winner wishes, as no doubt Nick would approve of anything from the latest game to a few beers with some friends! 

For those that remember Nick, do give him some time in your thoughts and for those that dont, dont be afraid to ask theres a few storys members here can recall about Nick and they are only to willing to tell

Jackie,Gerry,katie and especially Nick thank you for visiting his site. Please let Nick know that he will not be forgotton by lighting a candle and writing any thoughts on the tribute page.
This site will be reviewed regulary so if you have any comments please feel free to contact us with your suggestions.