I first met Nicky many years ago, but lost touch for a while. Then about 10 years ago a group of like-minded folk who enjoyed the writngs of Elinor Brent-Dyer and/or Elsie J Oxenham started meeting for coffee, lunch, and a mooch around the bookshops, in Winchester, Romsey, Southampton, Reading - and even once in Guildford. Nicky was almost always one of those friends - she, Caroline, Annabelle, Sugar and I were the core 'members' of the Winchester K&K group, and Gil, Noreen, Jane Helena Abbey and others joined us at various times. Over the years we rejoiced at new titles from her pen - and more recently were thrilled to share her joy at the award for House at Ladywell.

She will be greatly missed by all her friends. The photo was taken at the NCC AGM last September, when she had just told us her diagnosis.