We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our Chair of Trustees and previous Chair of the Pied Piper Appeal, Nick Broady, over the Christmas period.
Nick was a proud Gloucester boy and having suffered with asthma as a child had to spend a great deal of time in hospital without a parent with him. He always had a passion and drive to make the time in hospital for sick children and their families as comfortable as possible. He was brought on to the Pied Piper board as a trustee by his friend of forty years, Roger Head OBE.
Roger said ‘In 2005 Nick became my vice chair of the Appeal and in 2013 took over as Chair. He was instrumental in bringing new ideas and initiatives to the much loved charity. He combined his knowledge and experience in the car trade as managing director of Avenue Cars to his drive to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for sick children in Gloucestershire introducing the Gloucestershire Car Show, now known as the Pied Piper Classic Car Show. He has been a great contributor to Gloucestershire. Enhancing and improving the lives of many, Nick will be sadly missed by us all.’
Nick used his business contacts across the county to form solid partnerships between businesses and Pied Piper who have sponsored events, equipment and short break facilities for children with special needs and learning difficulties.
Julie Kent, High Sheriff of Gloucestershire and fellow Trustee of Pied Piper who had also known him for forty years, describes his unwavering determination to make a difference to sick and disabled children in Gloucestershire: ‘Nick was amazingly supportive to Bern and I when we lost our daughter to a brain tumour in 1995 and formed the Emily Kent Trust which now comes under the umbrella of the Pied Piper Appeal. He championed every event we held and brought me on to the board in 2014, becoming his vice chair in 2015. He is an unstoppable force to volunteer with who wouldn’t ask you to do anything he wouldn’t do himself but you had to be on the ball to keep up with him! It has been my pleasure to work and learn from him so closely over the last 12 years.’
He combined many of his interests to boost the fundraising at Pied Piper including golf. His golf days were renowned for masses of raffle prizes and good quality prizes in the competition for the best teams. He wanted everyone to have a great day and for us to raise a phenomenal amount of money in the process. He had a particular interest in children with SEND and disabilities wanting all children to have equal opportunities whatever their educational needs. He formed the extremely successful collaboration with the SAND Academy Trust and was still working on various projects for Goals beyond Grass, Brody’s Trust when he was diagnosed with MND.
His commitment to Gloucestershire was unwavering as he found time on top of running his own business to visit Pied Piper projects, mentor other charity personnel, turn up to do auctions for many charities, form the sports group for the Honourable Company of Gloucestershire, give time as president at Brickhampton Golf Complex and is presently the Captain of the Gloucestershire Golf Captains.
We thank him for his incredible energy, determination and infectious desire to do good.
Our thoughts are with his wife, Millie and family.
