MANY friends, particularly musicians in West Somerset and beyond, were saddened to hear of the untimely passing of Nicolas (Nick) Harrison last week.

Nick was born in Stratford upon Avon in 1953 the eldest son of the late W Barsby Harrison. The family moved to West Somerset in the early 1960’s when Mr Harrison started a building firm based in Minehead.

Nick attended school in the town where he was a popular pupil excelling in most subjects. He worked for the family business for a couple of years and later qualified as a carpenter and joiner through the government TOPPS course.

But it was his talent as an exceptionally innovative drummer that generated most interest among fellow musicians and audiences alike.

He began drumming with a couple of Somerset bands initially but eventually was head hunted by several professional outfits further afield. These included the Hull-based Ted Key and the Kingstons which started life as the Beautiful South and The Housemartins.

Before this he played with the leading Hendrix tribute band EXP, headlining several times at the Glastonbury Tent Stage at the Glastonbury Festival.

Nick lived in London for several years while studying at a local music college. About three years ago gradually failing health prompted him to return to West Somerset where at Chapel Cleeve he beautified the surroundings of his chalet with blooms from the area’s plant stalls.

Nick also increased his literary output, and his discursive contributions to Facebook became ever more productive, with frequent reference to his garden and the creatures, human and otherwise, that inhabited it.

The cremation will take place in Taunton early next month for family and very close friends and a scattering of his ashes on North Hill, Minehead, organised for later this year. On the same day musical colleagues will be able to pay their tributes to Nick at a venue to be chosen. He is survived by a daughter Vida, two grandchildren, a sister Michelle and brothers Jerry and Rupert.

SP & BB