Nick Nelson

Incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Nick Nelson, he truly was one of a kind.

His History of Art lessons were a highlight of my time at Cheltenham, and I feel very lucky to have been taught by such an inspiring teacher.

His support continued long after me leaving school, with help with uni essays (always providing far more help and guidance than my lecturers), aiding with my application to the Courtauld Institute, and most recently organising interviews with OCs.

Reading through these tributes highlights the extraordinary generosity of Mr Nelson who happily supported countless students through their time at college and long after.

My sincerest condolences to his friends and family.

The last few weeks have given me time to reflect on the impact Nick had on my life. He was a truly unique man, whose generosity and love towards me, and so many others, knew no bounds.

I was lucky enough to have Nick as my tutor, as well as my History of Art and Art teacher in the Sixth Form at Cheltenham College. He was, without doubt, the best, funniest and kindest teacher I have ever had.

I am sure I am not alone in saying that, without Nick, I would not have achieved what I did at school, nor would I have the same love and appreciation for the subjects he taught me to this day.

Nick’s impact on my life continued long after I left school. The relationship I was lucky enough to have with him meant that, on a couple of occasions over the following two decades, when I needed someone, he was there.

Nick’s passion for life — for his family, art, culture, music and nature — is what I will remember. His smile, and that unmistakable glint in his eye, were hallmarks of that.

Reading the beautiful tributes on this page has brought home, wonderfully but painfully, just how important Nick was to so many people.

None more so, than his family. Kate, Clara, Theo and Raif. — my thoughts and prayers are with you all at this terribly difficult time.

We were ,as a family, so shocked and saddened to hear that Nick/MrNelson had died.He is remembered fondly as an art teacher, hockey coach and simply a very kind and funny man.
Will Jim and Flee left College many years ago but the memories of Nick are as clear as if it were yesterday .His kindness is illustrated by the time he looked after Flee’s pearl earrings when she took them out in haste before a hockey match . Nick put them in a pocket but somehow lost them . Days later he produced a new pair he had bought to replace them, hoping they would be the right ones . They were and Flee still has them .
We send our sincere condolences to Nick’s family and wish them to know that Nick was a really special and well remembered teacher by our family .

(My husband, Jonathan , was very grateful to Nick for making parents’ evenings bearable !)

Sarah,Will,Jim and Flee Norcott

NIck Nelson has always been a ray of sunshine at College and has given so much joy to our whole family. From the first day that we dropped Tommy off at Christowe, we knew he was in safe hands and we had made the right decision. He was wise, kind and tremendously good fun - he had a unique skill for not only knowing every pupil but making each person feel special and we feel so lucky that all of our children experienced his contagious energy and enthusiasm. Tilly thrived under his care, he inspired her to not only work hard on her History of Art A-level, but she developed a love of the subject and wanted to make him proud. A truly remarkable man and he will definitely stay in our hearts. Sending Kate, Theo, Raif and Clara lots of love at this tricky time.
Sam, Jules, Tommy, Lizie and Tilly Birch xxx

Mr Nelson helped me tremendously for my overseas university application. It was shocking and heartbreaking to hear this news. I am now studying architecture in New York, it could not have been possible without his two years long assistance. The application process was confusing and tiring, but Mr Nelson genuinely had the best interests for us pupils, he clarified the procedures and brought me comfort with life advice occasionally. He also has an astonishing collection and intelligent storage regarding architecture and the arts, it was fruitful talking to him. Mr Nelson saw us students' potentials at its fullest, and even at my lowest, he was dedicated to push us to become a person that we can be proud of. May his family and friends, pupils and colleagues, find peace in knowing he was an influential Teacher, and that you have every reason to be incredibly proud of the impact he made.

In Loving Memory of Mr Nelson, and wish you peace,
Sonia, Cheltonian '25

Nick was one of those individuals who leave a profound legacy during their time on this earth. He was a living example of what it means to be truly passionate about a job well done. Generous with his knowledge and rigorous in every task he undertook, his plans had to be executed perfectly, without error; he never hesitated when it came to speaking up and defending an idea. His ability to organise cultural activities that crossed borders and continents was extraordinary. Nick was a visionary, inspiring, highly cultured, and truly remarkable man; a great gentleman whom I will always admire.
From The Grange School in Santiago, Chile, I will remember him as the most enthusiastic and empathetic visitor we ever hosted. His passion for birds and his keen interest in seeing a condor firsthand took him, on that occasion, into the mountains—our great Andes range—and he achieved his goal: he returned home with the most treasured photographs of his journey and visit… the condor. We laughed, refined details, and, thanks to his enthusiasm and professionalism, successfully established a new destination for school exchanges. Our pupils would visit Cheltenham College for an internship, and pupils from his beloved college would do the same at ours. Thank you for that opportunity.
We were working and in contact until the very last day before he passed away, with Nick monitoring his group who were at The Grange School. Today, I have only words of immense gratitude for having known him and for having been able to work alongside him; admiration for his infectious and boundless energy, and hope in the certainty that what Nick sowed in the local and international generations and colleagues he interacted with will never be erased.
To his dearest family, I wish much strength and fortitude; may peace bless you. For those of us who remain… we must continue doing what he was most passionate about: learning, teaching, connecting with others, travelling, and enjoying family and friends.
Nick, rest in peace. You will always be remembered for the example of integrity you left us.

María Verónica Rivera Prat
Head of Admissions & International Partnerships

I have been thinking about Nick's family ever since I heard the heartbreaking news. It's clear from reading the messages on this page that he had an enormous impact across so many people's lives - colleagues, families, students.. everyone he met. Mr Nelson taught me History of Art in 2007/8 and it is certainly teachers like him who inspired me to go into teaching myself. He had time for everyone and everything and always, always brought the fun. My September resolution as a I step into my tenth year of teaching - Be More Nick. Sending huge love to his wonderful family.

The kindness, encouragement and wisdom that Mr Nelson showed me at College had a huge impact on my experience there and on shaping the person I am today.

Starting in the Sixth form, Mr Nelson soon took me under his wing and it didn’t take long before his enthusiastic teaching and love for History of Art became contagious. Our classes were filled with wild gestures, meticulously detailed worksheets and graphic retellings of the misery of survivors of The Raft of the Medusa, which will always stuck in my head.

By Upper Sixth, Mr Nelson was not only my History of Art teacher, but my Tutor, Tennis Coach, Hockey Coach and In-House Tutor. A day would not go by without being subject to his brilliant sense of humour, tangents on medieval music and thoughtful gestures that went well out of the way of his working day.

In class, we used to beg him to take us for tea and cake at Moran’s (which he sometimes kindly obliged) where we would get competitive over our abilities to eat giant slices of chocolate cornflake cake.

In House, he was often devising practical jokes on poor, unsuspecting members of the house staff although I remember clearly playing one of my own on him, quite by accident. I’d offered to make him a coffee, with very little coffee making experience. Poor Mr Nelson ended up with a dangerously strong cup which he spat straight out and told me I’d never be given that responsibility again.

Not only did Mr Nelson support me through College, but he was also responsible for my University choice of Edinburgh and supported me through to my Master’s at The Courtauld; an encouraging presence throughout. I can’t count the number of times an article or radio clipping that may be of interest dropped into my inbox.

The lasting memory I will always have of Mr Nelson will be how proud he was of his family. His signature grin always reached from ear to ear when telling of his children’s achievements, or swearing that Clara was a comedy genius aged 3. It was so lovely they were so part of his life at College.

Mr Nelson believed in me before anyone else did, before I even believed in myself. An incredible man and truly one of a kind. I will always be grateful for the impact he had on my life.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family and all who love him, at this unimaginable time xx

Nick was a truly special person .
Eternally patient , compassionate and committed to bringing out the best in our 3 sons .
They and we are deeply saddened by his tragic death and send his family our sincerest condolence's .

Nick Nelson was a fabulous tutor to Tom at Cheltenham College. Supportive, understanding and kind. He always had Tom’s best interests at heart. A lovely man. On leaving school, I know Tom has loved playing golf with Nick and Theo. Enjoyed their chats. We are all shocked and saddened to lose Nick. Our hearts go out to Katie and all the family. You are all in our thoughts and prayers Katy, Paul, Meg & Tom xxxx

On behalf of the staff and residents at Richmond Villages Painswick and Cheltenham, we are deeply saddened by the loss of Nick.

We remember him with great fondness and gratitude, he will be greatly missed.

We send our sincere condolences to his family.

I was shocked and saddened to hear of Nick’s sudden passing, he was an extraordinary man.
He was, quite simply, one of life’s great characters — blessed with a wicked sense of humour, a wonderful singing voice, and a talent for impersonations. His ability to bring joy, warmth and a little mischief wherever he went was a gift to all who knew him.
He had a deep and genuine desire to see every single pupil succeed. Not simply achieve good results, but discover their own abilities, grow in confidence and realise that they mattered. He saw potential where others might have seen difficulty.
Nick was a true educationalist in every sense of the word. He cared deeply about education, about young minds and about the difference a good teacher can make to a life. His love and enthusiasm for History of Art was boundless.
I am so privileged to have called Nick a friend and colleague, he was one of the good guys. I shall treasure memories of trips to Oxford, The College rowing club in Tewkesbury and Gloucester Cathedral as part of the International Induction. I know he will be hugely missed by everyone who was lucky enough to know him. My prayers and sympathies go out to Katie, Raif, Theo and Clara at this unimaginably difficult time.

We're all really shocked and saddened to hear of Mr Nelson's passing.

I was never directly taught by him, yet he left such an imprint on my time at school. A complete breath of fresh air- endlessly energetic, curious, and devoted to mentoring students whether they studied his subjects or not.

I’ll always remember him playing Whitacre’s Sainte-Chapelle to the whole school at 8am, simply because he thought we should hear something beautiful before period 1, or suggesting whacky harmonies to add into the Westal House Song to "give it some spice."

A truly special teacher whose influence reached far beyond his own classroom. Thoughts are with his family and all who love him at this unimaginable time xxx

We're shocked and extremely saddened to hear of Nick's passing. He was such a warm and personable human, always having time to talk and share. His influence on and support for our son Max during his final year at college will never be forgotten - kind, thoughtful, instructive, he helped Max navigate a very tricky time and empowered him to go on to succeed and achieve his university place.
Our thoughts and sympathy with the family.

Like everyone we were so shocked and saddened to hear the news of Nick's untimely death and send our profound condolences to his family. Having taken some time to read the thoughts and memories already shared with such eloquence and depth of feeling, there seems to be very little to add. Nick taught our son Daniel, History of Art for two years during his sixth form at College and during that time he had the most profound influence on him. From providing individual tutorials on tangential topics that weren't in the standard curriculum to constant and unwavering support. He achieved his First in History of Art in no small part because of Nick.

We were absolutely shocked and devastated to hear the news about Nick. The support, advice, love, kindness and humour that he showed our family throughout our Cheltenham journey cannot be overstated. An amazing and incredible teacher and human. His influence on our children was immeasurable both during school and beyond. At times I can honestly say they would not have got through it without him. We will miss him dreadfully.
Our hearts go out to Katie, Theo, Raif and Clara and you are constantly in our thoughts and prayers. With love from Natasha, Tarcie, Emily, Ben and Jess Conner xxxx

There is no good place to start when talking about Mr Nelson, as every memory I had with him, is one that I will cherish and never forget. He was someone that was so important to me in the most crucial stages of my life, whether that was a friend, my tutor or my History of Art teacher, he was someone who was so funny, so passionate and so committed to trying his hardest and doing his best to make his students happy and comfortable during stressful times. The times we had together, whether it was at home, for gatherings with parents of Southwood or one-on-one, usually to discuss me getting a sanction for some late work or helping me to perfect my essay technique, were some of the best and most important of my life and to see someone I classed as a father figure for me, not be here as I grow into a young man, is something I will mourn as I grow up. My best goes to the amazing Nelson family, Gabe ❤️

Such incredibly sad news. My heart goes out to Nick’s family, friends, colleagues and all those who had the privilege of knowing him.

I was fortunate enough to study History of Art at College under Nick’s guidance and tuition, and his passion for the subject inspired me to continue studying it at University.

I’ll always have particularly fond memories of our wonderful HoA trip to Italy in ’01 - but, more than anything, I’ll remember Nick for his cheeky sense of humour, warm smile and genuine love of teaching.

A truly lovely man who made a lasting impression on so many of us. He will be very much missed. 💙

Mr Nelson was one of the most influential teachers I have ever had. He never failed to bring joy and laughter to every single one of our History of Art lessons. I had a really difficult time with 2/3 of my Alevel subjects studying History of Art taught with the infamous duo of Mr Nelson and Mr Evans made everything worth it. It was Mr Nelson’s passion that was the most inspiring, he knew every single detail about every single painting we studied, his extensive vocabulary never failed to amaze the class and the way he embedded fun and stories into everything was incredible.

It was just last October that I met up with Mr Nelson after reaching out during my second year of university as I was seeking some work experience. The opportunities and guidance he gave me during our 20 minute meeting were outstanding. I now have a long standing role with a top directing agency lead by a fellow student of Mr Nelson. This role has given me the biggest opportunities of my career so far and this is all thanks to Mr Nelson.

I will forever be grateful to have been taught and to have known Mr Nelson. I will continue to study HOA and the history of rave music and it’s culture. He truly has had such a massive impact on my life that will never be forgotten. Thoughts and prayers go to his family, especially to my friend Theo as we always talked about our fathers together.

We are all shocked to hear the tragic news. An enthusiastic and caring individual, Nick was a great schoolmaster and housemaster. It was always a pleasure to bump into him around College, and often uplifting to hear one of his spontaneous quips. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues.

I was lucky enough to have Mr Nelson as my sixth-form tutor and Art History teacher.

His intelligence, passion and enthusiasm for Art History inspired me to study the subject at university. Our lessons were always full of laughter, and he constantly found creative ways to keep us engaged — most memorably, photoshopping boys from our year group onto famous paintings.

As my tutor, I was incredibly grateful for the kindness and support he showed me. He would often email words of encouragement, take a genuine interest in what I was doing, and send me things he thought I might find interesting. He never failed to put a smile on my face first thing in the morning at tutor group, and I will always remember his warmth and generosity.

I feel very fortunate to have known him, and I know he will be deeply missed by so many. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this very difficult time. ❤️

Mr Nelson was truly one of a kind. I was first introduced to him as my Classics teacher in 3rd Form, and I was fortunate enough to have him become my tutor in 6th Form. The support and encouragement he gave me throughout my time at college shaped me in more ways than I can put into words, and I feel incredibly lucky to have been taught and supported by him.

His involvement in Westal during my time there was so memorable. We would spend hours talking in house, managing to successfully distract me from prep, discussing his hilarious stories and what I wanted to achieve after school. His presence was so warm and refreshing, and his sense of humour was unforgettable.

I last saw him at our five year reunion a few years ago. It was so lovely to see him again and I am incredibly grateful that I had the chance to see him that evening.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

My family and I were deeply saddened to hear about Nick's passing. He was a wonderful person, great company, and a Boyceite to the core! Parents and students all spoke so highly of him.

My deepest sympathy to Nick's family and the College community.

I had known Nick for nearly thirty years, and what a man he was.

A heartfelt tribute to him, remembered as an exceptional man, teacher, Housemaster, true friend, and a great loss to his family and college community.

Nick was always there whenever I needed advice or a shoulder to lean on; nothing was ever too much trouble for him.

One highlight I remember was when he took over as Housemaster, Christowe, upholding the highest traditions of the Charge of the Light Brigade (17th Lancers), leading from the front, and giving everything to his troops as housemaster. Nick continued to look after silverware and the lances to commemorate this battle (as past Housemasters had over the years).

Nick will be missed by so many, and our hearts go out to Katie, Theo, Raif and Clara. RIP kind sir

I feel very lucky to have known and been taught by Mr Nelson. He kindly took me under his wing for work experience and confirmed to me that I did want to be a teacher and I still think of him often (10 years later) when teaching certain artists. He always made me laugh, feel comfortable and his enthusiasm for his subject was contagious.

I was heartbroken when I heard of Mr Nelson's passing.

Teachers like him are invaluable: the tongue-in-cheek sense of humour, the zealous passion for his subject, and the rare and genuine care he had for his students as people. Even when some of us were sometimes surly and grumpy. You knew Mr Nelson would always be interested in what you were up to, and would have something interesting to say about it.

He was consistent in my college career: as my TPE teacher in 3rd Form, and then as my History of Art teacher in Sixth Form. I still think of him when I use the words 'banal' or 'oneiric', and attribute my love of vocabulary to him. So much of what he taught was valuable at university and in my teaching career. I will especially appreciate that he always had a wink and a smile when he let me cut through his classroom when I was late to a music ensemble and didn't want to disturb the rehearsal sneaking in.

He was one of the best teachers of my time at any school, and I can only hope to be half the teacher he was.

My immense condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues to have lost such a formidable character. He really was one of the Cheltenham College Greats.

Nick was an incredible colleague and friend.

Working together for 16 years was an absolute pleasure and at times when I felt like things were not going well, Nick always me feel seen and heard.

Thank you for everything. You are truly missed.

Even though I didn’t have any lessons with Mr Nelson, he always stopped for a chat and to make sure I was doing good at college. Truly remarkable person. Very sad news and deepest condolences to the family.

Nick was a wonderful colleague - combining humour and warmth with a concern for colleagues and students. There are not many members of a common room who have the knowledge, zeal and charisma to lead a lunchtime exploration of the "The Hunters in the Snow" for colleagues - yet Nick was one. My prayers and condolences to his family.
With gratitude for knowing him,
Jonny Thomas

I am deeply shocked and heartbroken to hear of Mr Nelson’s passing.

I first met Mr Nelson during the 2018 international induction at Cheltenham College. Mr Nelson became a constant source of support during the induction, and throughout the rest of my time at College.

I fondly remember his facilitation and leadership during international student events at College, including the annual mid-autumn festival gatherings where I would engage with Mr Nelson in deep conversations about different cultural interpretations of the Moon. His knack for arts and culture has certainly carried its way forward into my current studies in Canada today.

It was always a delight hearing about Mr Nelson’s passion for History of Art during several other instances, where he would deliver enlightening talks incorporating this subject in morning Chapel. Furthermore, his awesome personality as a teacher and mentor will forever be remembered as a cornerstone of the College community.

I am truly grateful for all that he did for me, and feel very fortunate to have crossed paths with him. He will be greatly missed.

My heartfelt condolences are with Mr Nelson’s family and those who’ve known him, at this very sad and difficult time.

With deepest sympathy,
Ronald Tse
Christowe, 2022

My heartfelt condolences and prayers for the family 💙

Mr Nelson had a brilliant sense of humour, a love of art, music and culture that could comfortably encompass Botticelli, Keith Flint and 90s progressive house. There were the Teams meetings organised around the England football schedule, Gat Decor’s Passion opening a Monday double lesson, his purist belief in the chapel talk as a short-form medium, and the occasional musical interlude from his guitar whenever the mood took him.

He was also deeply kind, something I experienced first-hand in the days before my A Levels, following a difficult loss. Mr Nelson didn’t hesitate to organise a call to go through my History of Art papers with me, turning up at Ashmead on his moped on the morning of Paper 1, armed with a handwritten postcard and a Cadbury’s Wispa. He walked me as far as he could into the exam and told me that, if he could, he’d sit it for me. Then Michelangelo’s David appeared on the paper - a symbol of strength and defiance for the Florentine Republic. With everything Mr Nelson had done to get me there, it felt like he’d somehow recruited sixteenth-century Florence to my side too.

I went on to study Music and Art History at Newcastle University, graduating this summer. It’s hard not to see some of his influence in that choice, and in where I hope to go next. I feel very fortunate to have known him, and deeply saddened by the loss of such a remarkable person.

It is impossible to put into words the friendship and professional nature of Nick over so many years. Working alongside Nick was a true pleasure; the endless laughs, banter, enthusiasm, mischievous approach was to be expected on each occasion. Even as recent as last academic year at a reunion, he was his utterly charming self, sharing incredibly funny moments of life at College and his teaching and tutoring of the young pupils at College. His compassion and empathy enriched so many lives. My heart and prayers go out to his family, friends and colleagues at this immensely difficult time.

I kept remembering you almost every month after leaving college more than 14 years ago - thank you for being an amazing housemaster, teacher and friend.

Thank you for everything.

See you in the other side.

It was impossible to be at Cheltenham College and not know Mr Nelson. He had a smile and a hello for everyone around the school, regardless of their house or year group. My two fondest memories of Nick are, I think, characteristic of him as both a teacher and a man.

One morning in the autumn term of either 2017 / 18, it was Nick's turn to do a chapel talk. Being an art historian, he took the depictions of the Virgin throughout history as his subject. More importantly, he talked about the actual materials that had been essential for the "standard" depictions of the Virgin's clothes, including lapis lazuli which, he explained, came all the way from Afghanistan. An actual piece of lapis lazuli soon emerged from his pocket and made its way round the pews. Nick had managed to engage, quite literally, the whole school in art history for 15 minutes... at 8:30 in the morning! I can only imagine what his A Level Art History lessons were like.

Nick also coached the 3rd XI hockey, a team made up of 5th Form - U6th, for many years. We liked to enjoy ourselves and not take ourselves too seriously. Nick understood this and kept training sessions light-hearted, often arriving in his suit and trainers on his Vespa Scooter, parking it theatrically beside (and sometimes on!) the astro turf. His competitive side came through during matches and it was clear our job was to represent the school through sportsmanship, fair play and a determination to never back down. There was a good word for everyone at the end of the match, no matter the outcome. Most of all, he treated us as "people", not "children" which was appreciated by all the boys.

It was always a pleasure to see Nick at OC events where often he was the common point of contact for several generations of Cheltonians. If anyone represented the best aspects of College over the years, it was surely Nick.

I am deeply saddened to hear of Mr Nelson's passing. He was such an influential figure in my early education and in shaping the path I have taken since.

As an international student coming to the UK for school for the first time at the age of 14, his warmth and enthusiasm made me feel welcome and at ease from the very beginning. Later, as my A-Level Art History teacher, Nick gave me invaluable support in finding my academic direction, applying to university, and thinking about my future career. I will always remember his generosity, including the time he drove four hours to take me to a competition.

Without him, I may well have chosen a completely different academic and professional path. His influence will continue through the paths of so many students whose lives he helped shape.

I stayed in touch with Nick after graduating and had hoped we would continue to meet in London. Although he is no longer with us, his kindness, humour and passion will remain in the memories of all of us who were fortunate enough to know and learn from him.

We were devastated to hear of Nick’s passing. All three of our children went to Cheltenham college. Nick and his family were Christowe’s House’s ‘house family’ for a while, and he was the reason, in the end, that we chose Cheltenham. His hand written note encouraging our son there, we have kept. His guidance and kind words always reassured us that we’d made not only the right decision in sending our son there, but that we’d chosen the best house for him too. Nick was truly respected - a person so full of character and enthusiasm for life, so fair and gentle but with a proper sense of humour too. I personally never had a favourite teacher when I was at school, so I adopted Nick as mine.
We’ll never forget him.
Rest in peace Nick. Prayers to your family 🕊️

It saddened me greatly to learn about Mr. Nelson‘s passing. His art history classes were my absolute favorite and he was a great inspiration for me personally as I chose to study Art History at university later on. I still work in the art world to this day and cherish the memories of my first encounter with the subject in Mr. Nelson‘s classes. His passion and interest gave me the foundation for my future profession and in my mind I’ve always credited him for inspiring me to follow my passion and heart. He was warm, funny and I will never forget his love for Ali G. (It was 2001) that he shared with all his students at the time. It has been more than 20 years since I left Cheltenham College but his classes are one of the fondest memories of my time there. My heartfelt condolences and love go out to his family! A great teacher and Mensch that has given so much to so many.

Nick was a kind, relatable, thoughtful and reliable man when it came to all sorts of problem’s. He carried me through my last two years of college and aided me whether it was school work or topics outside of school. As if he was almost a tutor to life for me. He meant the world to me and was hands down a big part of my life at Cheltenham. Devastating news and my thoughts and prayers go to his family and friends. What a great soul to have moved on.

It was such a sad day when I received the news that Nick Nelson, also known to me as Mr Nelson, had passed away.
Nick was such an amazing person, and I feel very lucky to have had him as my History of Art teacher during 2022–2023. He taught me so much and showed me how to truly appreciate art and to look beyond what some might see as just your average painting and instead understand the deeper meaning, history and emotion behind it.

Nick was incredibly passionate about History of Art, and the inspiration he gave me through that passion is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life. He always had a smile on his face and was never too busy for a little chat, a laugh, or a joke with our History of Art class.

That evening, I raised a glass to Nick and to all the wonderful memories and lessons he taught me. I felt it was a small but meaningful way of remembering someone who has had such a positive impact on my life and many others.
He will be hugely missed, but he will never be forgotten. I feel incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to be taught by such a wonderful person and to have been inspired by him.
My thoughts are with his family, friends, colleagues and everyone who knew and loved him during this incredibly difficult time ! 🤍

Mr Nelson never took me for any actual lessons, but the impact he had on my time at college was tremendous. He taught my sister and she loved every second she spent with him, when I met him several years later I finally saw what she meant. He was an incredible man with a heart of gold and believed in every student.
He had an immaculate sense of humour, always a jaunty gait, and had the ability to improve anyone's mood the moment they spoke. The energy he brought to campus was something beyond marvellous.
When I bumped into him on campus I knew my day would improve. The knowledge he could impart, the stories he told, the history of his life, everything about Mr Nelson was incredible and he will always be remembered.

I send my best wishes to his family, and just know you're not alone in missing him.

I was so sad to hear about Nick, I hope he knew how many lives he touched and how very well respected he was by so many of us. As a parent new to boarding, he always made sense and I was always happy with his 'down to earth' approach to the boys in his care. Love and best wishes to Katie and all the family. xxx

Mr. Nelson was a fantastic history of art teacher who really believed in the ability of those he taught. He was always free to give me advice or to answer any queries I might have and his support and confidence in me during my A-levels exams was enormously steadying especially during moments when I was stressed and wavering in confidence. Mr. Nelson inspired a genuine interest and passion in the subject and this was one of the key reasons I continued to pursue it even after leaving school.

It’s almost impossible to sum up a friendship that spans so many years. There was always light whenever we met -the inevitable banter, the jokes, the mischievous irreverence for colleagues and College protocols, his prestigious knowledge, his enthusiasm, his consummate skill as a communicator, his empathetic mentoring of the young, his warmth and of course that infectious grin. Nick will always be remembered as one of those special people who enriched the lives he touched. My heart goes out to his family and friends at this tragic time.

I was terribly saddened to hear of the passing of Nick Nelson. I was at Boyne House until 2001, at College and I remember fondly the chats and the giggles I would have with Nick. More recently at Dunkertons, I thoroughly enjoyed Nick's ''History of House Music''... Nick was a treasure and he will be missed by many people. Rest In Peace Nick.

Mr. Nelson was an incredible History of Art teacher and mentor during my time at Cheltenham College. He gave me the confidence to believe in myself during a challenging time for myself and my family during my final term at Cheltenham. Instead of relying on special circumstances for my A-Levels, he urged me to push forward because he knew what I was capable of achieving - A vote of confidence I will always be grateful for.

Beyond this, he bought immense life to Cheltenham College. His lessons were engaging, entertaining and filled with warmth. He was always generous with his depth of knowledge, even taking the time to help guide me through my first essays at Edinburgh University. My deepest thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.

I was shocked to hear the passing of Mr Nelson. He was such a fun and energetic bloke. Who even made 3rd team hockey enjoyable for me with his high spirits. When we saw he was on duty in Newick this year we were all buzzing to have him as he brought us all closer together. I’m incredibly grateful for his help in getting me my job in Australia this year. He had a great talent at making a group laugh. He will be massively missed.

The news of Nick's passing is deeply saddening. He had a huge impact on myself, my brother, sister and mother, all of whom had interactions with Nick as pupils or staff over more than a decade. Nick was often the brightest light in a room, and always knew how to make people laugh. His dedication to teaching, HofA and the Cheltonian Society was truly special, and College won't be the same without him. My thoughts are with his family and dear ones. May he rest in peace.

Nick Nelson was an incredible teacher and mentor. He brought levity, wit and humanity to the classroom - I looked forward to each lesson I had with him. I am grateful to have gotten to know him better as a person by working with him closely on academic society projects and other initiatives at College. He encouraged me to follow my interest in the law, which helped put me on the path I am on today. He will be greatly missed.

So very sad to hear of the passing of Mr Nelson. He was such a passionate, inspiring and encouraging teacher and his enthusiasm for the subject was infectious. I joined his A Level class having never really found a subject I loved and he opened up a whole new world to me. I went on to study History of Art at university, something I may never have done without his encouragement.

He was incredibly knowledgeable, supportive and a truly wonderful teacher. I’ll always be grateful to him for inspiring a love of History of Art that has stayed with me ever since.

My thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this very sad time. 🤍

We are all deeply saddened by the awful news and our thoughts are with all of Nick's family.

Our family were lucky enough to have been at college with Nick and even though he supported Arsenal he always made his days on duty in Newick entertaining and fun. He was a constant at College and will be sadly missed by parents and children.

Deeply saddened to hear of Nick's passing. He gave me the confidence and support to go to university in Canada, something that has changed my life. I know of others, too, that would not have dreamed of overseas study if it were not for Nick's passion and belief.

I am so very sorry to hear this desperately sad news. Nick was a one-off. Of the colleagues I worked with in the early 2000s, Nick really stands out. In his humour, his unfailing kindness and generosity of spirit, his positivity, his passion for his subject, a genuine interest in staff and students, parents and prospective parents alike - in all his many qualities, he had no equal.

My deepest, most heartfelt condolences are with Nick's family and loved ones at this tragic time. And of course to everyone at College who will be so shocked and shaken by his loss, but who will pull together, as always, in support and care for each other and Nick's family.

What awful news.

Nick was accompanied by hilarity everywhere he went at UEA - he lit up every situation with wit and playfulness, borne of his perceptive and affectionate intelligence. This was more than thirty years ago but my wife and I remember it like yesterday, with a smile. Our hearts go out to his family.

I was so lucky to have Mr Nelson as my History of Art teacher and prefect lead. He never failed to take the mickey out of everyone in the class, as he was so thoughtful he could remember every little detail about his pupils making the comments hilarious. He would go off on a tangent in almost every lesson, telling the funniest stories that had the whole class laughing and made the lesson fly by.

He taught us about the Renaissance, but, most importantly, he taught us not to take life too seriously, to laugh a lot, and to tell stories about ourselves that people will remember. His impressions of other teachers were fabulous, and his sense of humour was completely one of a kind, something that could never be replicated.

He was an extraordinary teacher and was, without a doubt, the main reason so many of us chose to study History of Art.

My thoughts, along with those of so many of his students, are with his family and friends during this incredibly difficult time, we’re all so grateful to have known Mr Nelson.

I was so shocked & saddened to hear such sad news. It took me straight back to my days at UEA. Nick was a real character - shy at times but with a really sharp wit. He had a great way of making you laugh & that had a lasting impact on me, even though we didn’t know each other that well, but I can picture him right back there - it’s a vivid, lovely memory. And I’ve seen all that he achieved both with his family & his work. What a terrible loss for all those that knew & clearly loved him - much love to his family. But what a life he led & what an impact he clearly made. Even to me all those years ago - thank you Nick for making me smile x

I once asked Nick if he would give a talk on the portrayal of time in Western Art because it was a key theme of Shakespeare’s Sonnets, which I was teaching that year. The illustrated lecture he gave was superb, of course, covering dozens of works from several centuries and pulling them all together with his typical humility, eloquence, expertise and panache. What he said, and the images he chose, must have taken weeks, if not months, to prepare. At the end of the event I thanked him and asked when he was going to give the talk again. Never, he said: his talks were never as good second time around. RIP NN.

I’m shocked and saddened to hear this news - I was fortunate to have Mr. Nelson take the place of our Art History teacher who had fallen ill at the time. This was around '95/96, when I was in the sixth form, and Mr. Nelson was an instant hit from his very first day.

Although he must have only been seven or eight years older than us at the time, he was still in his early twenties and seemed both relatable (because he looked our age!) yet way wiser than us. He had a great way of putting you at ease and always managed to balance anything serious with light-heartedness and fun. Some years ago, I had the great pleasure of being invited back to College by Mr. Nelson to do a presentation and was so happy to see that those qualities were stronger than ever.

Mr. Nelson, as a person and a teacher, was an absolute rarity and his huge contribution to College will be a tremendous loss. My thoughts are with his family, to whom I send much love and my sincere condolences.

It is with great sadness that I hear this sad news.

Our lives crossed at this time of year every year, as Nick masterminded the international induction at Cheltenham College. The students I supported always spoke so warmly of Mr Nelson and commented on how much fun he was, with his enthusiasm and personality making such an impression on them.

I will particularly remember how inspirational Nick was to one of our students during the Covid pandemic and beyond. He helped to nurture her newfound love of History of Art and encouraged her to go on to pursue the subject at university. That is a wonderful legacy to leave a young person.

I was also aware that Nick was very much a family man, as well as someone deeply dedicated to his work. He seemed to approach everyone he met with warmth, enthusiasm and a smile.

My heartfelt condolences go to Nick’s family and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time. I know that Cheltenham College will be deeply saddened by his loss, and his vibrant personality and the contribution he made to so many people will be greatly missed.

I worked with Nick in the 1990’s in the art department. He was such fun and always supportive. On school trips to Paris with Sixth Form I remember that he was so knowledgeable. He was unforgettable and I am very sad to hear that he has died. He was simply one of a kind. My deepest sympathy to all of his family and colleagues.