E D Nicholson

E D Nicholson
Official positions held:
FR Co. Exec	Registrar 1954 - 1987
FR People | WHR People

A close friend and colleague of John Routly as his articled clerk, Nic Nicholson became involved with the FR when John asked him to sort out some of the problems relating to obtaining control of the Company. John asked him "Have you ever bought a railway?" and though he had not, it was something he soon added to his experience as John and he negotiated with old shareholders, banks and individuals, for purchase of a controlling interest by Alan Pegler. He became the FR Company's Registrar in 1954, a position he held until a short time before his death in 1987. He was on the first Simplex-hauled passenger train in 1955. After that there was little to do except that from time to time solicitors acting for executors of deceased shareholders wrote to enquire the value of the shares. They were gently persuaded to donate them to the FR Trust. Born in South Wales, he was with John Routly at Rootes Group and then had a succession of top jobs in manufacturing industry. He was a (part-time) founder member of the British Transport Docks Board and a fellow of the British Institute of Management and then managing director of George M. Whiley Ltd. In his obituary, contributed by John Routly, John said that Nic possessed a good brain, was a linguist and played rugby for London Welsh.

See also

• FR Personalities
• Festiniog Railway Company Officials, Post-1954