TRIBUTE TO BOB NICHOLSON - LONG-SERVING FORMER BRIGG PUBLICAN & BUSINESSMAN

Bob Nicholson - former long-serving Brigg landlord and businessman - has died. Here's our tribute to Bob, who we got to know very well, on and off local licensed premises.
A flag in the town is now flying at half-mast as a mark of respect to him, and funeral arrangements have been made (see details below).
Bob, who hailed from the North Bank, became familiar to many people in Brigg during the 1980s when he ran the tenanted White Hart, on Bridge Street, with wife Sue, and subsequently acquired the freehold of the Queens Arms, on Wrawby Street.
This hostelry proved particularly popular as a sports bar with local football, cricket and hockey players, and there were darts, domino and whist teams in the Brigg & District Games League.
Impressive after-match teas were served up to visiting hockey sides, which brought many compliments.
The internal ground floor layout of the Queens was improved - removing three small rooms in favour of open plan, which freed up space for customers.
Accommodation was provided for contractors working in the area, and the Queens became particularly popular during the 1990s as a provider of lunch-time meals and snacks for council employees based at the nearby office complex on Station Road (subsequently named Hewson House).
Bob went on to develop his own micro-brewery at the Queens - a first for the town - with Brigg Bitter among the ales on offer.
Some beer festivals were also hosted on the premises with Bob showcasing a range of tipples including porters and milds.
A major change eventually followed with the pub being transformed into the Fish Inn licensed restaurant, and we were among those invited down to a memorable launch night.
Later at the King William IV (King Billy) pub & restaurant at Scawby Brook, Bob enjoyed playing golf, and loved to be on the water - owning a number of craft and being a keen member and official of Glanford Boat Club, based on Island Carr, Brigg.
We had regular chats with Bob over many years about a host of local issues, including the licensed trade.
With time these became less frequent, but there were still town centre catch-ups until relatively recently - the last being at a fitting location, close to the former Queens Arms and Fish Inn.
On a Saturday night, not all that long ago, we met Bob, by chance, in the Yarborough Hunt, Bridge Street.
He was in very good form, remembering some of the memorable nights and afternoons at the old Queens.
The original offer to join him for a quick drink turned into an lengthy trip down memory lane.
Bob's funeral will be held on Tuesday, September 13 at Woodlands Crematorium, off Brumby Wood Lane, Scunthorpe, at 10.40am, to be followed by a wake at Glanford Boat Club from 12.30pm.
The family says: "Please join us to raise a glass to Bob. Even if you can only pop in for ‘a swift half’ in your lunch break, we’d love to see as many people as possible, and for Dad’s final act to be announcing loudly that 'drinks are on the house!' as he rings the bell for one last lock-in. Please don’t feel you need to wear black."
The boat club's flag beside the River Ancholme will remain at half-mast until the funeral.

PICTURED: Below - Bob with Sue, on their wedding day, a proud moment with daughter Kirsty, and on the boat with Tom Almey.

 

 

Attending grand-daughter Britt’s wedding on 3rd August 2019.