Nicki Bickford

Nicki recruited me to the patient information team at Guy's and St Thomas' in April 2020, at the height of the pandemic. I had a baby at home and it was difficult for everyone but Nicki's kindness saw me through the most challenging days. She cared deeply for the people in her life, and would often talk about Sarah and David. I feel I got to know them well over the years. She always conducted herself with such grace and strength, and I learnt so much from her as a manager and as a friend, which I will carry with me. I miss her humour and sense of fun, her brilliant style, her natural way of simplifying the most complex of situations, and her passion for what we did to make people's lives that bit easier. We are committed to carrying on her amazing legacy in the team, and she will not be forgotten here. Sending love to Sarah, David and Nicki's family and friends x

Nicki, it’s so hard to have to say goodbye.
I will always remember our lovely walks and talks in Oxleas and Greenwich. Your gorgeous doggie & your kindness.

And whenever I am typing up any patient information I remember your advice to always use Arial 12 (so boring I told you at the time 😂) but I follow this rule all the time now & correct others on it!!

Our time working at the cancer centre & the Survivorship day preparation/organisation was when I really got to know you better & the year you joined in the fashion show strutting down the catwalk looking absolutely stunning!
You were so hardworking, precise & so supportive, getting every detail just right for all the other survivors taking part on the catwalk. The reunions after were made possible because of you.

As you know I am often reminded of you when walking in Greenwich park & the muddy Oxleas Wood & think of you. That won’t change.
I will miss you & our walks and talks.

Life isn’t fair.
I would have loved to have just one more walk together.

X Saskia

I just want to say how privileged and honoured I was having Nicki as a sister in law and as a friend. Nicki was a wonderful aunty to James and Katherine throughout their progress from babies to grown-ups. She supported them through their ups and downs, their school days and into their careers. I enjoyed all our laughs at Christmas, various birthday parties and BBQ’s. Nicki was a loving big sister to Karen and was always there for her through thick and thin.
She will always be in my heart
Love
John

The thing I remember most about Nicki was her smile. It could light up a room. She was very welcoming when our hospitals merged with Guy's and St Thomas'. Most of our meetings were online, but she always included me in the patient information team Christmas celebrations, which I really appreciated. On those occasions, she spoke so warmly about her family. She was so proud of you all. We will all miss her.

Thank you for being the best auntie and for all the happy memories we shared together, especially our Christmases and summer holidays.

As your favourite (only) nephew, I’ll miss you so much.

Lots of love,

James x

Dear Nicki, where do we even start...?!

I first met you back in 1986 when you started seeing David, my flatmate.
What fun and happy times we've shared with you and David ever since, together with sharing some tougher times that life is fond of throwing at all of us.

We remember visiting you both at your Lewisham flat(s) and then later in Lee.

We were there at your wedding to David, and were in each other's lives when we had our children. What a joy they have all been!

Our visit to Thailand in 2011 is still one of our favourite holidays - whether that be riding around in tuk tuks in Bangkok or lazing by the pool in Koh Samui.

We've drunk in roof top bars and secret bars (especially the ones Sarah took us all to in Manchester!).
We've played darts - in my case very badly (also courtesy of Sarah).

We've got soaked in Northumberland and wandered around the streets of Prague while the boys drank green beer!

We enjoyed a brilliant day out in hospitality watching David's beloved Crystal Palace FC beat West Ham - even though neither you nor Sarah particularly shared his (misplaced?!) enthusiasm for The Eagles - while our own Seagulls seats remained empty that day!

We've also shared many birthdays and many New Year's Eve's with you and David, and, together with Mick, and Carole and Dave, have had the pleasure of savouring David's truly wonderful cuisine.
You were always the perfect hosts.

Through all the years we have cherished your positivity, calm demeanour, and 'up for a laugh' mentality.
We've shared so much fun.

We will treasure the memories always.

40 years of friendship, Nicki, but not long enough.

Sending all our love to David, Sarah and all of the wider family.

Jackie, Nigel, Callum, Emily and Neve
xxxxx

How lucky I was to have you as my big sister.
Thank you for just being you. I love you so much.

Forever in my heart

Hugs and kisses
Karen xxx

With hearts full of memories, we raise a glass to the magic of outdoor concerts, the vibrant spirit of Thailand that we shared together and to the New Year’s Eve’s that will never be quite the same. RIP Nicki - such a special lady who will be missed by us all ❤️ xx

There are no words I can write of how much my Auntie Nicki meant to me. She has always been a constant in my life and someone to look up to. Days out, spa days, birthdays, Christmases, work experience, fashion shows, good days and sad days, small and big milestones and in between. I will remember them and hold them in my heart.

Thank you for every hug, every laugh, every phone call, every handheld, every tear wiped away, thank you for your constant support and encouragement in all aspects of my life. And for helping me follow my dreams.

I feel privileged to have called you my Auntie and have seen how much you were loved and respected by everyone throughout your life. I love you and miss you always ♥️

I worked with Nicki in the same team at Guy’s and St Thomas’ for a year before she retired. I always enjoyed our days in the office together. There were many times when I asked Nicki for advice. She was one of those people that genuinely listened and cared. We spoke about all the holidays and adventures she’d been on (there were many!) and she always spoke so highly of Sarah and how proud she was of her. No matter what Nicki was going through she always seemed so strong. We will miss Nicki so much. Sending love to David, Sarah, her family and friends x

Nicki and I first met at work. ‘NDL’ over 38 year’s ago. We all worked hard but found plenty of time to party given any excuse - Friday was pub day and always the perfect start to a weekend. After my first son Sam was born, I returned to work and Sam attended the nursery next door. If I was delayed, Nicki was always the first to offer to collect him and entertain Sam until I was finish. Clearly a Mum ’in waiting’! When I found out I was expecting my second son, I tentatively told Nicki who just giggled and said ‘I’m pregnant too’ .This meant we could share our pregnancies together and Sarah was born 2 days after my son Ben!

Over the years we continued to find ourselves partying with very special memories of times in Somerset staying at my in-laws with a house full of friends and children.


We had an incredible evening celebrating ‘special birthdays’ with Nicki & David at Guy’s Hospital- Nicki making the most of her work connection to provide a stunning location.

Over the last few years Nicki truly showed me how determined she was to fight her cancer. I would message her to see if she was well enough for me to pop in after my hair appointments every 6 weeks. I know sometimes she wasn’t feeling great but she was always so pleased to see me. She always wanted to know all about my family, holidays, mutual friends. These times were so special and I very quickly learn that you should never shy away from seeing and talking to your loved friends even when they are poorly- Nicki was a natural communicator and her smile and positivity was something that I will always endeavour to take with me through my life. I will truly miss my dear friend but I know Nicki would want us all to smile and remember all the good times and there were so many. Thank you for being such a wonderful friend for so many years xx❤️

I was fortunate to work with Nicki for seven years at Guy's and St Thomas'. She was in the office next door. She was a truly special person - kind, supportive and always there with a smile when it was needed most. I will miss our conversations about holidays, kids, parents and of course work. I will miss her friendship and the positive impact she had on so many of us. She will always be remembered.

I worked with Nicki in the comms team at Guy’s and St Thomas’. She was a genuinely lovely person who was so easy to talk to.

During the pandemic we both got a puppy around the same time and would swap tales about all the trouble they were getting in to! She often spoke about her trips to see Sarah in Manchester and you could tell how proud she was.

Sending love to her family and friends x

I knew Nicki from the day I was born, as she already was the love of my cousin David’s life. I always considered her as my family, and she always welcomed us from France with warmth, care and love. I have many memories of our London trips, sharing evenings in Lee with her and David. I will forever be thankful for all the love she gave to us, and specially to my kids.

One of my favorite memories is the day we flew in and Nicki kindly offered to come and get us at the airport by car. That was so sweet of her, thats how she was. Thélio was 16th months old, and we thought that would be easier than the train. We didn’t know a huge trafic jam would keep us 5 hours on the motorway! But the magic part of the story is that once we finally arrived at the house in Lee, Thélio took his first steps !! I cherish the video Nicki took of him in this so special moment, and the fact that we can hear her lovely voice on it. We were all so amazed ! And proud he chose London for his big launch! I will always remember sharing that moment with you.

I also loved the conversations we had together, authentic, honest and deep meaning. I will surely miss her a lot, and always keep her in my heart. ❤️ Love you Nicki.

I was so lucky to work with Nicki at Guy's and St Thomas'. So many of our patients have felt better informed and reassured due to her hard work, drive and determination. She set the standards which are the foundation of everything our team does today.

She was kind, caring, empathetic and always encouraging. She talked of her family with such love, of her fun trips to Manchester and how proud she was of her daughter. She was such a big part of our team, much loved and will be much missed. With love Lindsay x

I first met Nicki and David when Sarah was very little and we shared a nanny. It was such a full-on busy time and we did our best to give our children a joyful and healthy childhood. Nicki was an absolutely wonderful Mum, and I learned so much from her, and feel privileged to have shared in Sarah’s early childhood.
For me, Nicki was an inspiration, not only incredibly smart, creative and great fun, and the best organiser ever, but extraordinarily generous with her time to support others, including me when I needed advice. When the kids grew up and went further afield, Matthew and I loved spending time with Nicki and David when we had the chance. We have lovely memories but wish there had been time for more.
Nicki is gone way too soon. I am grateful for the legacy of her friendship and for fond memories. We are mindful of the profound loss for David and Sarah and we send our love. Our thoughts are with them. With love from Joan, Matthew, Aiden & Laura xxx

I worked with Nicki for many years at Guy's and St Thomas' and she was truly one of the nicest people I've ever met. Caring, kind and always did the right thing... even though she did 'out' me for wearing shorts on a Teams meeting early on in the pandemic... before secretly admitting to me that she was doing the same!

Nicki often talked about her lovely family and their trips away, including her visits to Manchester to see Sarah in recent years. It was clear that she was so full of pride.

I think I speak for my whole team when I say we will miss Nicki lots - she made such a huge impact on everyone she met.

Sending lots of love to David and Sarah - I'm sure you'll give her the celebration she deserves xx

Nicky was a very special schoolfriend. We shared a love of the Bay City Rollers and travelled to concerts together. We spent more time than we should have, writing down and sharing day dreams, instead of listening to the teacher. We’d jump off the school bus and race to Nicky’s Nan’s house just in time to watch the Rollers’ TV show because it was closer than Nicky’s house. Our taste in music became more sophisticated as we got older! We lost touch after we left school as we both moved away. No mobile phones or Facebook back then but I missed her a lot and often wondered how she was doing. It was lovely when we caught up on Facebook and great when we managed to have a catch up with a couple of other school friends, Wainy and Nikki a few years ago. Although many years had passed, it didn’t feel like it. Nicky was a huge part of one of the happier times of my life and will never be forgotten.
DD xxx

Nicki came into our lives when my nephew David had the excellent idea to start dating her . That was when we all lived in Lewisham . We had such fantastic fun together.....parties in the flat, sessions in the pub, picnics on Blackheath or in the flower garden in Greenwich Park . Memories of those carefree, happy times are so vivid to me still .
Nicki was a fun-loving person , always ready to join in our family celebrations .My Mum and Dad thought highly of her, enjoyed socialising with her and were delighted to welcome her into our McLean Clan .
As the years went by and our children , Sarah , Melanie and Damien , were growing up , we spent many days out and holidays together , both in the U.K. and in France . Unforgettable moments .....laughter was always the order of the day .
Nicki and I rapidly became very close . I knew I could rely on her at all times for help, advice, sympathy and moral support . She was a deeply loved and respected friend and family member , dependable, calm, sensitive and sincere . She did so much to enhance our lives and we are truly grateful .
Even during the terrible period of her illness, Nicki maintained a positive , uncomplaining and determined attitude to life . Her fortitude and loving nature are an example to all .
I feel totally honoured and proud to have had Nicki , such a beautiful person , in my life and that of our family . She will stay forever in our hearts .

I always told Nicki she was the best bed partner I could ever have wished for!!

The opening ceremony of London 2012 will forever be a highlight of my life. The biggest reason for this is because I shared every step with Nicki.

We were partnered together on day one and spent hours, days, weeks and months learning routines, how to follow grid patterns, how to run in heels and a nurses uniform, how to push a light-up hospital bed in formation and, of course, how to defeat evil through the medium of dance!

Nicki truly made every moment a joy. We hit it off instantly and enjoyed the greatest summer of friendship and support whilst sharing a truly once in a lifetime event. I was so so lucky to be paired with Nicki.

We kept in touch after and loved hearing about each others lives. A genuinely lovely friendship created by a chance pairing.

Nicki, I will miss you very much. Thank you for making a wonderful time even better and for giving me the very best memories to look back on. Thank you mostly for being my friend.

Nik x

I went to school with Nicki. So many stories…her love of the Bay City Rollers and my constant laughing about it. The time we went on a school trip to London to some museum but Nicki, myself and Nikki W all sneaked off and spent the day in Biba. We were never found out. Her later love of Bowie, which I approved of and a few years ago went with Nicki to the Bowie expo at the V&A. The school discos where we thought we were the bees knees… well we were, actually. .

We go back a long, long way and have always kept in touch. It is so sad that we will no longer be able to do that. Nicki was a very special person who always had time for other people. I am going to miss you Nicki but relieved you are no longer suffering.

The news about Nicki came as a great shock. She was truly one of the good ones—always supportive, approachable, and ready to take the time for a conversation. While we did not always see eye to eye, we shared a commitment to getting things done and working towards the best outcomes.

Nicki was a remarkable source of knowledge and experience. If you did not know the answer to something, chances were that Nicki did—or she would know exactly where to find it. She was often the oracle of information, generously sharing her expertise to help others.

Even during the most challenging and hectic times, Nicki brought a calm and reassuring presence. She was a strong character with a kind and generous heart, and her warmth, wisdom, and unwavering support will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing and working with her.

She leaves behind a lasting legacy, and she will be remembered with great fondness and respect.

Nicki organised and guided total strangers to create a fashion show for Guy's HosppitalCancer Survivors Day "cat walk".
We lived close to one another and met occaisionally wtih Martina another organiser for a restaurant meal.I believe and hope the get together provided some brief respite. We will miss her.

We were heartbroken to hear of the passing of Nicki. She was a calm, gentle, and very easygoing person who came into my cousin David’s life at the perfect time. I remember my first introduction at the flat in Lewisham and my immediate thought was how well he had done for himself (there wasn’t a term for punching back then!).

Nicki became part of our larger clan seamlessly - always with a warm smile and kind words for everyone. She was a devoted and extremely proud mother to Sarah and a steady supporting wife to David, even when most weekends had to be planned around the CPFC fixtures list, she took it all in good grace, cheering on the team from home.

As a family we were so proud that she played an important part of the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony with the NHS team. We also admired her
strong work ethic and she said all her hard work was worth it for the view from her office over the Thames.

Nicki was a very special person who took a real interest in people. We admired her quiet strength and the kindness she showed to all. Nicki will be deeply missed us and by all who knew her.